Money · Winter 2026 to 2027
You can get a Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2026 to 2027 if you were born on or before 27 June 1960 and usually live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, and most eligible people are paid in November or December 2026 (GOV.UK).
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Answer for the qualifying week, 21 to 27 September 2026: GOV.UK bases the payment on when you were born and your circumstances that week.
A guide to GOV.UK’s published rules, not a decision: the Winter Fuel Payment Centre decides, and your letter gives the amount.
Worked answers
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Eligible: £200 for winter 2026 to 2027. £200: you were born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960 and live alone or with no one else who is eligible. Your total income (£18,000) is not over £35,000, so you keep the £200. Your partner’s income does not count towards yours.
Eligible: £200, but HMRC takes it back (income over £35,000). £200: you were born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960 and live alone or with no one else who is eligible. Your total income (£42,000) is over £35,000, so HMRC takes the £200 back through your tax code, so more tax comes off your wages or pension. You keep £0 overall.
Not eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2026 to 2027. You cannot get a Winter Fuel Payment if you live in Scotland. You might be eligible for Pension Age Winter Heating Payment instead (see mygov.scot).
Eligible: £100 for winter 2026 to 2027. £100: you live with someone else who is eligible, neither of you gets Pension Credit, Universal Credit or income-related ESA, and you were born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960. Your total income (£18,000) is not over £35,000, so you keep the £100. Your partner’s income does not count towards yours.
GOV.UK amounts
From GOV.UK’s “How much you’ll get” page. The amount is based on when you were born and your circumstances between 21 to 27 September 2026. “Benefits” means Pension Credit, Universal Credit or income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
| Your situation | Born 28 Sep 1946 to 27 Jun 1960 | Born before 28 Sep 1946 |
|---|---|---|
| Live alone, or no one you live with is eligible | £200 | £300 |
| Live with someone eligible; you get one of the benefits (not a joint claim) | £200 | £300 |
| Live with someone eligible; you and your partner claim one of the benefits jointly (one payment for you both) | £200 if both born 28 Sep 1946 to 27 Jun 1960 | £300 if one or both born before 28 Sep 1946 |
| Live with someone eligible; no benefits; they were born 28 Sep 1946 to 27 Jun 1960 | £100 | £200 |
| Live with someone eligible; no benefits; they were born before 28 Sep 1946 | £100 | £150 |
| Live in a care home (if eligible) | £100 | £150 |
Any money you get will not affect your other benefits (GOV.UK). GOV.UK: How much you’ll get.
Eligibility
You can get a Winter Fuel Payment if you were born on or before 27 June 1960 and usually live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. You will not be eligible if you:
Care homes: you can get it if you live in a care home, unless you get Universal Credit, Pension Credit or income-related ESA and you lived in a care home for the whole time from 29 June 2026 or earlier. GOV.UK: Eligibility.
£35,000 threshold
Dates
GOV.UK: When you’ll get paid; GOV.UK: Check if you need to claim.
Scotland
You cannot get a Winter Fuel Payment if you live in Scotland. GOV.UK says you might be eligible for Pension Age Winter Heating Payment instead; mygov.scot has the rules and amounts. mygov.scot: Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.
Opting out
Not for this winter: GOV.UK says you can no longer opt out of the Winter Fuel Payment for 2026 to 2027. You’ll be able to opt out for 2027 to 2028 from 21 December 2026. If you do not opt out and your total income is over £35,000, you receive the payment and HMRC takes it back. GOV.UK: Opt out of the Winter Fuel Payment.
Related
See the tax on your savings interest now and from 6 April 2027, when savings rates rise by 2 points.
Universal Credit, Pension Credit, PIP, Attendance Allowance and Carer's Allowance from April 2027, worked out from September 2026 CPI of 3.5%. A forecast until DWP confirms.
Helpful answers
People born on or before 27 June 1960 who usually live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, unless an exclusion applies (for example in prison or in hospital for the whole qualifying week of 21 to 27 September 2026). Most get it automatically.
Between £100 and £300. Living alone it is £200 if you were born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960, or £300 if born before 28 September 1946. Couples and people in care homes can get £100, £150, £200 or £300 depending on birth dates and benefits.
Most eligible people will be paid in November or December 2026, after a letter in October or November. If nothing has arrived by 27 January 2027, contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.
Yes. If your total income is over £35,000, HMRC takes it back, usually through your tax code, or through your Self Assessment tax return if you complete one. Your partner’s income does not count.
No. GOV.UK says you can no longer opt out for 2026 to 2027. You can opt out for 2027 to 2028 from 21 December 2026.
No. If you live in Scotland you cannot get a Winter Fuel Payment; you might be eligible for Pension Age Winter Heating Payment instead (mygov.scot).
Sources, opened 22 October 2026: GOV.UK, Winter Fuel Payment: overview; eligibility; how much you’ll get; check if you need to claim; when you’ll get paid; if your income is over £35,000; opt out; mygov.scot, Pension Age Winter Heating Payment. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. A guide, not a benefit decision.