1DWP confirms four groups not eligible for Winter Fuel Payment 2026 ‘even if right age’ | Wales Online Follow walesonline:
Need to know
All you need to know about the key payment this year – as energy bills set to hit new high
Need to know: four groups excluded from winter fuel payment in 2026
- Department for Work and Pensions officials have confirmed four groups of people will not receive the winter fuel payment in 2026, despite meeting basic eligibility criteria.
- The money is worth between £200-£300 and you can get it if you have reached State Pension age – born on or before 28 June 1960 for the 2026/2027 winter – and lived in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland during the qualifying week. This means some people who are of pension age will not get the money.
- Those who will not get it usually live outside England, Wales or Northern Ireland, were in hospital getting free treatment for the whole of the week of 21 to 27 September 2026 and the year before that, need permission to enter the UK and their granted leave says that they cannot claim public funds, were in prison for the whole of the week of 21 to 27 September 2026
- HMRC will claw back payments from those whose total taxable income exceeds £35,000, though a partner’s income doesn’t count towards this total.
- The announcement comes as household energy bills are set to increase to their highest level for three years heading into winter. Cornwall Insight experts predict a 4% rise in the energy price cap in October, despite the Prime Minister’s plan to remove VAT from electricity bills.
- Dr Craig Lowrey from Cornwall Insight warned: “Rising energy bills aren’t welcome at the best of times, but with winter approaching this latest hike will hit struggling households especially hard.”
- The Government has pledged to tackle cost of living pressures, with a spokesman stating they are “acting to give consumers breathing space” through VAT cuts and the £150 warm home discount for around six million households.
- Typical households could face annual bills of £1,729, up from £1,663, marking the highest average since July 2023.
- READ THE FULL STORY: DWP confirms 4 groups ‘not eligible’ for 2026 winter fuel payment even if meet age rule
