Winter Fuel Payment Calculator
2026 to 2027: Amount and the £35,000 Payback

Anyone born on or before 27 June 1960 who usually lives in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, and was not in hospital or prison for the whole of the qualifying week (21 to 27 September 2026) or barred from public funds. In Scotland the Winter Fuel Payment has been replaced by the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.

£200 if you were born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960, £300 if you were born earlier. Couples who both qualify and get no means-tested benefits share it: £100 each if both are in the younger band, £150 each if both are older, or £100 and £200 if one of each.

In a care home it is £100 or £150.

Only if your own total income for the tax year is over £35,000. Total income means, broadly, all your taxable income before the personal allowance: State Pension, private and workplace pensions, earnings, savings interest, dividends and rental profit.

Your partner's income is ignored. If you are over the line, HMRC recovers the full amount, usually by changing your tax code; if you file Self Assessment, it is added to your tax bill.

Through your tax code, so slightly more tax comes out of your pension or wages each month. HMRC's own example for the 2026 to 2027 tax year is about £17 a month for a £200 payment, rising temporarily to about £33 a month in 2027 to 2028 while it recovers two winters at once.

You can opt out of the payment instead if you know your income is over the threshold.

Most people are paid automatically, including anyone getting the State Pension or Pension Credit. You need to claim only if you get none of the qualifying benefits and have not had a payment before, or have deferred your State Pension.

The deadline for winter 2026 to 2027 is 31 March 2027.

Letters go out in October or November, and most payments arrive in November or December 2026, usually into the account your State Pension is paid into. If nothing has arrived by 27 January 2027, contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.