Sylvie Willis
Winter Fuel Payment is an annual payment to help with heating costs during the colder months. The payment was first introduced in 1997 as a universal benefit for pensioners, with a qualifying age of 60 and a flat rate of £20 per year. For the 2025/2026 winter, the payment criteria have been expanded to include those not receiving pension credit. The amount received depends on the recipient's age and income, with payments ranging from £100 to £300.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Qualifying age | 60+ |
| Annual payment | Yes |
| Purpose | Help with heating costs during the colder months |
| Qualifying week | Week beginning from the third Monday in September |
| Amount | £200 if you or your partner are over State Pension age; £300 if you or your partner are over 80 |
| Payment date | Between November and December 2025 |
| Income threshold | £35,000 |
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What You'll Learn
Annual payment of £200 for those under 80
The Winter Fuel Payment is an annual payment to help with heating costs during the colder months. For the 2025-26 period, the payment is £200 for households where the oldest person is under 80. This is subject to change, as the payment amount has varied since its introduction in 1997.
To qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment, you must have reached State Pension age. For 2025-26, this means being born on or before 21 September 1959. You must also be living in England or Wales during the qualifying week, which is the week beginning on the third Monday in September. For 2025, this falls between 15 and 21 September.
If you are under 80 and qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment, you will receive £200 towards your bills. This payment will be made into the bank account your benefits are usually paid into. Most eligible people will receive the payment in November or December 2025.
It is important to note that if your income is over £35,000, HMRC will take your Winter Fuel Payment back. This can be done by changing your tax code for the following tax year or adding the amount to your Self Assessment tax return.
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$26.31 $55.99
Annual payment of £300 for those 80 or over
The Winter Fuel Payment is an annual payment to help with heating costs during the colder months. The amount you receive depends on your age and income. For the 2025-26 period, those born before 22 September 1959 are eligible for the payment.
If you or your partner are over 80, you could receive £300. This is an increase from previous years, when the payment for those over 80 was £200. The payment is made into the bank account that your benefits are usually paid into.
To be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment, you must also be living in England or Wales during the qualifying week, which is the week beginning the third Monday in September. For 2025, this is 15 to 21 September. You must also have reached State Pension age.
If your income is over £35,000, HMRC will take your Winter Fuel Payment back. This can be done by changing your tax code for the following tax year or adding the amount to your Self Assessment tax return for the current year.
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Payment eligibility rules
The Winter Fuel Payment is an annual payment to help with heating costs during the colder months. Here are the eligibility rules for the payment:
Eligibility rules for Winter Fuel Payment:
- For the 2025-26 period, you must have been born before 22 September 1959 to be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment. This date may change in future years.
- You must have reached State Pension age.
- If you or your partner are over State Pension age, you could receive £200 towards your bills. If you or your partner are over 80, you could receive £300.
- If you or your partner receive Pension Credit, Universal Credit, or income-related Employment and Support Allowance, one person will be paid the whole Winter Fuel Payment for the household.
- If you and your partner do not receive one of these benefits, the payment is split between you and the other qualifying people you live with.
- If you are 80 years old or older and live alone without anyone else who qualifies for a payment, you will receive £300.
- Your taxable income must be below £35,000 per year. If your income is over this threshold, the payment will be recovered through the tax system.
- You can live in a care home and still be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment.
- You will not be eligible if you get Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), or income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and lived in a care home from 23 June 2025 or earlier.
- You will not be eligible if you were in hospital getting free treatment for the qualifying week of 15 to 21 September 2025 and the year before.
- You will not be eligible if you were in prison for the entire qualifying week of 15 to 21 September 2025.
- You need permission to enter the UK, and your granted leave says that you cannot claim public funds.
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Payment methods
If you are eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment, you will receive a letter in October or November informing you of the amount you will be paid. Most eligible people will be paid in November or December. You will be paid into the bank account your benefits are usually paid into.
If your income is over £35,000, HMRC will take your Winter Fuel Payment back. This can be done by either changing your tax code for the 2026 to 2027 tax year or adding the amount to your 2025 to 2026 Self Assessment tax return. You can check if your income is over the threshold and how HMRC will take the payment back.
You can opt out of getting the Winter Fuel Payment by contacting the Winter Fuel Payment helpline on 0800 731 0160 or online at www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/how-to-claim. If you change your mind later, you can still make a claim by 31 March 2026.
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Opting out of payments
If you do not want to receive the Winter Fuel Payment, you can opt out of getting it. To do so, you can contact the Winter Fuel Payment helpline on 0800 731 0160 or go online at www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/how-to-claim to indicate that you do not wish to receive the payment. However, before making a decision, it is important to consider that the payment is designed to help with heating costs during the colder months, and you may need this financial assistance.
If you opt out and change your mind later, you can still make a claim by 31 March 2026. It is worth noting that most eligible individuals will be paid in November or December 2025, so you should keep this timeframe in mind when making your decision.
For those with an annual income of over £35,000, the Winter Fuel Payment will be recovered through the tax system. This means that even if you receive the payment initially, it will be taken back by HMRC through methods such as changing your tax code or adding the amount to your Self Assessment tax return. Therefore, if you know your income exceeds the threshold, opting out might be a sensible choice to avoid the hassle of receiving and then repaying the money.
In addition to the income threshold, eligibility rules for the Winter Fuel Payment have undergone changes in recent years. From winter 2024/2025, the payment was restricted to households receiving Pension Credit or certain other means-tested benefits. This led to millions of older people not receiving the payment. However, there has been a U-turn, and for winter 2025/2026, all individuals of State Pension age and over will be eligible, regardless of their income level. This change will apply in England, Wales, and Scotland, while Northern Ireland is providing a one-off payment of £100.
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Frequently asked questions
The amount of the Winter Fuel Payment depends on your age and living situation. If you or your partner are over State Pension age, you could receive £200 towards your bills. If you or your partner are over 80, you could receive £300. If you live in a care home and are under 80, you will receive £100, and if you are 80 or older, you will receive £150.
If you and your partner are both eligible, you will each be paid half of the Winter Fuel Payment for your household.
Most people get the Winter Fuel Payment automatically if they are eligible. You will receive a letter in October or November telling you how much you will get, and you will be paid in November or December.
You can opt out of getting the Winter Fuel Payment if you do not want to receive it. Contact the Winter Fuel Payment helpline on 0800 731 0160 or go to www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/how-to-claim to say that you do not want to receive the payment.
