The Winter Fuel Payment is a yearly help with heating bills for older people: GOV.UK says that if you were born on or before 27 June 1960, you could get between 100 pounds and 300 pounds to help pay your heating bills for winter 2026 to 2027. Most people get it automatically, and most eligible people are paid in November or December.
Every autumn the same questions come up: am I old enough, how much will I get, does it need a claim, and what happens if my income is too high? The answers depend on your birth date, who you live with and a short qualifying week. Here's what GOV.UK's Winter Fuel Payment guide says, with the amounts as GOV.UK shows them as of Nov 2026.
Winter Fuel Payment at a glance
| Question | What GOV.UK says |
|---|---|
| Who can get it | People born on or before 27 June 1960 |
| Amount | Between 100 pounds and 300 pounds for winter 2026 to 2027 |
| Do you need to claim? | Most people get it automatically if they're eligible |
| Letter | Sent in October or November, saying how much you'll get |
| When it's paid | Most eligible people are paid in November or December |
| Qualifying week | 21 to 27 September, which sets your amount |
| Income over 35,000 pounds | HMRC takes the payment back |
| Other benefits | Not affected by the payment |
| Scotland | Not available; Pension Age Winter Heating payment may apply |
How much you'll get, by birth date and household
GOV.UK says the amount is based on when you were born and your circumstances during the qualifying week of 21 to 27 September. The two birth date bands that matter are people born before 28 September 1946, and people born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960.
| Your situation | Born 28 Sep 1946 to 27 Jun 1960 | Born before 28 Sep 1946 |
|---|---|---|
| You live alone, or no one you live with is eligible | 200 pounds | 300 pounds |
| You get Pension Credit, Universal Credit or income-related ESA (not a joint claim) | 200 pounds | 300 pounds |
| You live in a care home | 100 pounds | 150 pounds |
If you live with someone else who's eligible and neither of you gets one of those benefits, GOV.UK says you'll get 100 pounds if you're both in the younger band, 100 pounds if you're in the younger band and they're in the older one, 200 pounds if you're in the older band and they're in the younger one, and 150 pounds if you're both in the older band.
If you and your partner jointly claim Pension Credit, Universal Credit or income-related ESA, one of you gets the payment: 200 pounds if you were both born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960, or 300 pounds if one or both of you were born before 28 September 1946. It's paid into the bank account your benefits usually go into.
The 35,000 pound income rule and your partner
This is the detail that's easy to misread. GOV.UK says that if your total income is over 35,000 pounds, HMRC will take your Winter Fuel Payment back. But your partner's income doesn't count towards your total. So a couple where one person earns more than the threshold and the other doesn't is judged person by person, not as a household.
If your income is over the threshold, GOV.UK says HMRC takes the payment back either by changing your tax code or by adding the amount to your Self Assessment tax return. GOV.UK has a page where you can check if your total income is over the threshold and how HMRC will take it back, and its guide also has a section on opting out of the Winter Fuel Payment.
When the letter and the money arrive
- Check your birth date: you need to have been born on or before 27 June 1960.
- Look out for a letter in October or November, which GOV.UK says will tell you how much you'll get.
- If you don't get a letter but think you're eligible, use GOV.UK's 'Check if you need to claim' section.
- Expect the money in November or December, which is when GOV.UK says most eligible people are paid.
- If your circumstances change, use GOV.UK's 'Report a change' section.
- If your income is over 35,000 pounds, check how HMRC will take the payment back.
Scotland, scams and other heating help
If you live in Scotland, GOV.UK says you can't get a Winter Fuel Payment, but you might be eligible for Pension Age Winter Heating payment instead.
GOV.UK also warns about scams. You may get calls, emails or messages pretending to be from a government service, and if a message asks for your personal details, such as bank details or passwords, it could be a scam. Report anything you think is suspicious. Most people don't need to do anything to get this payment, so a message asking you to 'claim' it by sharing bank details is a red flag.
GOV.UK lists other help with heating bills you could also get:
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- a Cold Weather Payment, if you get certain benefits and the temperature drops to zero degrees celsius or below for 7 days in a row
- the Warm Home Discount, a 150 pound discount on your bills if you get Pension Credit or live in a low-income household
- help with the cost of living from your local council, if you're eligible under the rules in your area
For more ways to stretch the household budget, see how grocery loyalty programmes can help with the cost of living, and for longer-term planning, this outlook for defined contribution pensions. If you're checking on an older relative, the best medical alert systems are worth knowing about too.
My advice on the Winter Fuel Payment
If you were born on or before 27 June 1960 and don't live in Scotland, you'll most likely get it without doing anything, so watch for the letter in October or November and check the amount against GOV.UK's table. If no letter comes, use GOV.UK's 'Check if you need to claim' section rather than waiting. And never hand over bank details to a caller or message offering to sort it for you.
Frequently asked questions
Who gets the Winter Fuel Payment?
GOV.UK says people born on or before 27 June 1960 could get it, for winter 2026 to 2027. It isn't available in Scotland.
How much is the Winter Fuel Payment?
Between 100 pounds and 300 pounds, depending on when you were born, who you live with and whether you get certain benefits. Those are the amounts GOV.UK shows as of Nov 2026.
Do I need to apply for the Winter Fuel Payment?
Most people get it automatically if they're eligible. If you don't get a letter but think you qualify, GOV.UK has a section to check if you need to claim.
When is the Winter Fuel Payment paid?
GOV.UK says most eligible people will be paid in November or December, after a letter in October or November.
What happens if my income is over 35,000 pounds?
HMRC takes the payment back through your tax code or your Self Assessment tax return. Your partner's income doesn't count towards your total.
Does the Winter Fuel Payment affect other benefits?
No. GOV.UK says any money you get won't affect your other benefits.
