Automatic payments of up to £300 have been confirmed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for state pensioners from November.
The money comes from the winter 2026 to 2027 Winter Fuel Payment, which will be paid to eligible pensioners in England and Wales to help with heating costs this winter. The DWP has confirmed that pensioners born before June 28, 1960, will be eligible to receive a payment of up to £300, with the money to be issued under new Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who inherits the current Winter Fuel Payment system from his predecessors.
The DWP has confirmed that Winter Fuel Payments in the 2026/27 tax year are worth between £100 and £300, with those born between September 28, 1946 and June 27, 1960, due to get £200 and those born before September 28, 1946, due to get £300.
The exact amount pensioners receive depends on their age and individual circumstances during the qualifying week between September 21 and 27, 2026.
If you get Pension Credit, Universal Credit or Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) then your payment amount may be different.
The DWP will send out letters to pensioner households from October confirming the payment amount, with the money then due to be paid into accounts automatically in November and December.
Most pensioners on any of the following 12 benefits will receive their Winter Fuel Payment automatically in November or December and don’t need to do anything to claim it:
- State Pension
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
- Attendance Allowance
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Carer’s Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- awards from the War Pensions Scheme
- Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
- Incapacity Benefit
- Industrial Death Benefit
If you don’t get any of these, then you will need to submit a claim for the payment if either of the following apply:
- you’ve not got the Winter Fuel Payment before
- you’ve deferred your State Pension since your last Winter Fuel Payment
Confirming when payments will be made, the DWP said: “Most payments are made automatically in November or December. You should get a letter telling you:
- how much you’ll get
- which bank account it will be paid into – this is usually the same account as your State Pension or other benefits
“If you do not get a letter or the money has not been paid into your account by 27 January 2027, contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.”
Pensioners with a total income over £35,000 will have their Winter Fuel Payment automatically taken back by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), either by a change in tax code or by adding the amount to Self Assessment tax returns.
To opt out of getting a Winter Fuel Payment, pensioners must complete an online opt-out form before 11.5pm on September 20, 2026, or call the helpline before 6pm on September 18, 2026. You’ll need to provide your National Insurance number when you do this.
You don’t need to opt out every year and won’t receive a Winter Fuel Payment in future years unless you choose to opt back in.
