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The Winter Fuel Payment is a one-off, tax-free payment made to households with someone over pension age to help cover heating costs during winter. The amount received depends on age, income, and the number of eligible people in a household. For the 2025-26 period, individuals born before 22 September 1959 and living in England or Wales are eligible for a payment of £100-£300. If you are in a couple where both partners are under 80 years old, you will each receive £100. If one partner is over 80, they will receive £200, and the other partner will receive £100. If both partners are over 80, they will receive £300 each. Payments are typically made between November and December, and most eligible individuals will receive them by then.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Qualifying Criteria | Born before 22 September 1959 and live in England or Wales |
| Amount | Between £100 and £300 |
| Income Criteria | Income should be less than £35,000 |
| Payment Mode | Paid directly into bank account |
| Payment Time | Between November and December 2025 |
| Opt-out Time | Before 15 September 2025 |
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What You'll Learn
Eligibility for Winter Fuel Payment
To be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment, you must be a pensioner and have reached State Pension age. For the 2025-26 winter, this means being born on or before 21 or 22 September 1959. The amount you receive depends on your age, income, and living situation. If you are 80 years or older, you will receive £300 if you live alone, £200 if you live with someone under 80 who qualifies for the Winter Fuel Payment, and £150 if you live with someone who qualifies and is also 80 or older. If you are under 80, you will receive £100 if you live with someone born before 22 September 1945.
The Winter Fuel Payment is a tax-free annual benefit to help with heating costs during the colder months. It is usually paid automatically to those who are eligible, and most eligible people will receive their payment in November or December. If you have not received your payment by January, you can make a claim before 31 March of the following year. You can check your eligibility and make a claim through the GOV.UK website.
In June 2025, it was announced that the payment criteria for the 2025-26 winter would be expanded to those not in receipt of pension credit. Recipients earning over £35,000 per year will have their payment reclaimed automatically by HMRC through the tax system. This includes those with a total income of over £35,000, who will have the full amount of their Winter Fuel Payment reclaimed via PAYE or Self Assessment. If you do not wish to receive the Winter Fuel Payment, you can opt out before 15 September 2025.
Some people living in the European Economic Area who moved prior to 31 December 2020 may also be eligible if they have a "genuine and sufficient link to the UK's social security system", such as having lived or worked in the UK.
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How much you'll get
The amount of money you will receive as a Winter Fuel Payment depends on your age and the age of your partner. 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, you will receive:
- £300 if you do not live with anyone else who qualifies for a payment
- £200 if you live with someone else who is under 80 years old and qualifies for a Winter Fuel Payment themselves
- £150 if you live with someone who qualifies and is also 80 or older
If you are under 80 years old, you will receive:
- £100 if you and the person you live with were both born between 22 September 1945 and 21 September 1959
- £100 if you were born between 22 September 1945 and 21 September 1959 but the person you live with was born before 22 September 1945
Winter Fuel Payment is an annual payment to help with heating costs during the colder months. You must have reached State Pension age. If your taxable income is over £35,000, your Winter Fuel Payment will be recovered through the tax system.
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When you'll get it
If eligible, you will receive a letter in October or November informing you of the amount of your Winter Fuel Payment. The payment will then be made directly into your bank account between November and December. The majority of payments are made by Christmas. If you have not received your payment by January 2026, you can make a claim before 31 March 2026.
To be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment, you must be living in England or Wales during the qualifying week of 15 to 21 September 2025. You must also have reached State Pension age, meaning you were born on or before 21 September 1959. If you are under 80 years old and live with someone else who is under 80 and qualifies for a Winter Fuel Payment, you will receive £200. If you are under 80 and live with someone who qualifies and is 80 or older, you will receive £150. If you are 80 or older and live with someone else who is under 80 and qualifies, you will also receive £150. If you and the person you live with are both 80 or older, you will 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 do not receive one of these benefits, the payment is split between you and the other qualifying people you live with.
If your taxable income is over £35,000 per year, the payment you receive will be recovered through the tax system later on.
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Opting out
If you do not want to receive the Winter Fuel Payment, you can opt out before 15 September of the year in which the payment is being made. For instance, if you do not want to receive the Winter Fuel Payment for 2025, you must opt out before 15 September 2025. You can opt out by contacting the Winter Fuel Payment helpline on 0800 731 0160 or online at www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/how-to-claim.
It is important to note that if you change your mind after opting out, you can still make a claim by the following March. For example, if you opt out of the 2025 payment but change your mind, you can make a claim by 31 March 2026.
You may want to consider opting out if you do not need the payment or if you prefer to have your income assessed before receiving it. The Winter Fuel Payment is designed to help with heating costs during the colder months, and you may prefer to receive the payment in case you need help with your bills. However, if your income is over £35,000 by the end of the financial year, the payment will be recovered through the tax system.
Additionally, eligibility rules and payment amounts may change from year to year, so it is important to stay informed about the latest updates. For example, in 2024, the government limited the payment to those receiving Pension Credit or another means-tested benefit, but this decision was reversed for 2025.
By opting out of the Winter Fuel Payment, you can choose to forego the payment if you do not need it or prefer to have your income assessed. However, it is important to keep yourself informed about eligibility rules and payment amounts, as well as the option to change your mind later if needed.
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Other benefits
The Winter Fuel Payment is an annual, tax-free payment to help with heating costs during winter. While it does not count as income when working out your entitlement to other benefits, there are other benefits to receiving the payment.
- You will get a letter in October or November telling you how much Winter Fuel Payment you’ll get, if you’re eligible.
- Most eligible people will be paid in November or December.
- You might be eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment from the Northern Ireland Executive if you live in Northern Ireland.
- You can opt out of getting the Winter Fuel Payment if you do not want to receive it.
- If you do not get a letter but think you’re eligible, check if you need to make a claim.
- If you have not received your Winter Fuel Payment by January, you can make a claim before 31 March.
- If you and 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 are 80 years old or older, you will receive £300 if you do not live with anyone else who qualifies for a payment.
- You can get Winter Fuel Payment if you live in a care home.
- You might be eligible for 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.
- You might be eligible for the Warm Home Discount—a £150 discount on your bills if you get Pension Credit or live in a low-income household.
- You might be eligible for help from the Household Support Fund if you’re eligible under your local council’s rules.
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Frequently asked questions
The amount of winter fuel payment a married couple receives in the UK depends on their age, income, and whether they receive certain benefits.
For the 2025-26 period, if both individuals in a married couple were born between 22 September 1945 and 21 September 1959, they will each receive £100. If only one partner was born within this timeframe, the same payment amount applies.
Yes, income is a factor. If either individual in the married couple has an annual income of over £35,000, they will not receive any payment. If both individuals' incomes are below this threshold, the payment amount will be split evenly between them.
If either individual in the married couple receives Pension Credit, Universal Credit, or income-related Employment and Support Allowance, the full payment will be made to that person on behalf of the household. If neither person receives these benefits, the payment will be split between them and any other qualifying individuals they live with.
Eligible married couples can expect to receive their winter fuel payment between November and December 2025.
