Winter Fuel Payment 2026: When Is It Paid, and How Much Will I Get?

The Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2026 to 2027 will be paid to most eligible people in November or December 2026, with a letter in October or November first saying how much you will get. It is between £100 and £300, and you can get it if you were born on or before 27 June 1960 and usually live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. If nothing has arrived by 27 January 2027, GOV.UK says to contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.

There are a few other dates worth knowing this winter, including the claim deadline and when the £35,000 income rule starts to show in your tax code.

This is general information from GOV.UK and nidirect, current in October 2026. For your own payment, check the letter you are sent or contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.

When will I get the Winter Fuel Payment in 2026?

GOV.UK sets out the order:

What happens	When
Qualifying week (your circumstances this week decide the amount)	21 to 27 September 2026
Letter saying how much you will get, and into which account	October or November 2026
Payment, for most people	November or December 2026
Contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre if no letter or no money	by 27 January 2027
Last day to claim for winter 2026 to 2027	31 March 2027

The money goes into the account the letter names, which GOV.UK says is "usually the same account as your State Pension or other benefits." In Northern Ireland, nidirect says the letter also gives "an estimated date of when you'll get the payment."

There is no single national payment day. Payments go out in batches over November and December, so a neighbour being paid first does not mean anything has gone wrong with yours.

How much is the Winter Fuel Payment for 2026 to 2027?

It depends on your date of birth and who you live with during the qualifying week. The most common amounts, from GOV.UK:

Your situation	Born 28 Sept 1946 to 27 June 1960	Born before 28 Sept 1946
Live alone, or no one you live with is eligible	£200	£300
Live with another eligible person, neither on the benefits below	£100	£150 (£200 if the person you live with is the younger one)
Get Pension Credit, Universal Credit or income-related ESA (not a joint claim)	£200	£300
Live in a care home (and eligible)	£100	£150

In practice, the higher rate is for people aged 80 or over during the qualifying week. Couples who jointly claim one of those benefits get one payment between them, £200 or £300. GOV.UK adds that "Any money you get will not affect your other benefits."

Do I need to claim the Winter Fuel Payment?

Most people do not. It is paid automatically if you get the State Pension, Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Attendance Allowance, PIP, Carer's Allowance, DLA or certain other benefits.

You need to claim only if you get none of those and either have never had a Winter Fuel Payment before, or have deferred your State Pension since your last one. Claims open by post from 21 September 2026 and by phone from 19 October 2026, and the deadline is 31 March 2027.

If you live in Scotland, you cannot get the Winter Fuel Payment; GOV.UK points to the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment instead.

What happens if my income is over £35,000?

You still get the payment, but HMRC takes it back. GOV.UK: "If your total income is over £35,000, HMRC will take your Winter Fuel Payment back." Only your own income counts; "Your partner's income does not count towards your total."

HMRC usually collects it through your tax code, or through your tax bill if you do Self Assessment. GOV.UK gives an example of how this can stack up: if HMRC is already collecting your 2025 payment, "your tax code will change in January 2027 to start collecting your 2026 payment. You will pay approximately £30 to £33 more tax each month if your Winter Fuel Payment is £200 in both years." It then changes again in April 2027.

If you file Self Assessment online, HMRC usually adds the amount automatically as the "Winter Fuel Payment charge", which is worth checking when you file.

Can I opt out of the Winter Fuel Payment?

Not for this winter. GOV.UK says you can no longer opt out for 2026 to 2027, and that "You'll be able to opt out of the Winter Fuel Payment for 2027 to 2028 from 21 December 2026." If your income is over £35,000 and you would rather not have it paid and then clawed back through your tax code, that is the date to act on.

If you opted out before and want it again, contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre before 31 March 2027 to get this winter's payment.

What should I do if the payment hasn't arrived?

Wait until after 27 January 2027 before worrying, unless you have had no letter and think you should have. Then contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre on 0800 731 0160 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm), with your name, address, date of birth and National Insurance number ready. In Northern Ireland, nidirect lists its own contact numbers.

Report changes as soon as they happen, for example moving house or into a care home, because they can change the amount.

On scams, GOV.UK warns that messages asking for "bank details or passwords" could be fake, and nidirect says plainly: "You won't be sent a text or email asking for your bank details." The payment is automatic for most people, so anyone asking you to "apply" or "confirm" details to receive it should be treated with suspicion.

A reminder plan for this winter

1. Late November: check the letter has come, and that the account it names is the right one.
2. Mid-December: check the money is in that account.
3. 21 December (if your income is over £35,000): decide whether to opt out for 2027 to 2028.
4. 28 January 2027: if the money is still not in, call the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.
5. January 2027 (income over £35,000): check the new tax code or Self Assessment calculation.

If you look after a parent's paperwork, these are good dates to put in your own calendar, not just theirs.

How ReminderIt can help

ReminderIt places a real phone call at the exact time you choose and reads your reminder in a natural voice, for example "Has Mum's Winter Fuel letter arrived? Check it names the right bank account." If the call is missed, you get a WhatsApp message.

You can set reminders by sending a WhatsApp message (text, voice note or a photo of the letter), such as "Call me on 15 December at 10am to check the Winter Fuel Payment has gone in", or on the website. There is no app to install. You can also set the call for your parent's own phone, so they hear it directly; they confirm first.

There is a 7-day free trial with 7 free reminder calls (3 if your number is in a country where calls cost more). After that it is one plan, $7 a month, with annual and 2-year options.

The short answer

If you were born on or before 27 June 1960 and live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, expect a letter in October or November and a payment of £100 to £300 in November or December 2026. Contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre if nothing has arrived by 27 January 2027. Claims, if you need to make one, close on 31 March 2027. If your income is over £35,000, HMRC will take it back, and you can opt out for next winter from 21 December 2026.

Sources: GOV.UK, Winter Fuel Payment (overview, eligibility, how much you'll get, check if you need to claim, when you'll get paid, report a change, if your income is over £35,000, opt out); nidirect, Winter Fuel Payment (updated 28 September 2026).