This week is important for the DWP to assess whether pensioners are eligible for the payment that will help heat homes this winter
More than 10m people across the UK could be paid up to £300 throughout the colder months to help afford energy bills for the 2026-27 winter. This week marks ‘qualifying week’ where the Department for Work and Pensions will assess whether you could be eligible for the upcoming winter fuel payment scheme.
Who will get the payment is based on a claimant’s circumstances during this week from September 21 to September 27. You will need to have reached state pension age before or during qualifying week meaning you were born on or before June 27, 1960.
The benefit is received automatically and those with an income in excess of £35,000 will be requested to return the payment back to the tax authority. HMRC will take your winter fuel payment back by either changing your tax code or adding the amount to your self-assessment tax return.
This spring HMRC requested 1.3m people to pay back the benefit after they received it without being eligible. For money-saving tips, sign up to our Money newsletter here
Who is eligible
If you are eligible you’ll receive a letter in October or November telling you how much you’ll get between £100 and £300.
If you were born on or before June 27, 1960, you could be eligible for the payment. You must be living in Wales, England, or Northern Ireland during qualifying week.
Who is ineligible
You will not be eligible if you are a part of one of the five groups that:
- live outside England, Wales, and Northern Ireland
- were in hospital getting free treatment for the whole of the week of September 21 to 27, 2026, and the year before that
- need permission to enter the UK and your granted leave says that you cannot claim public funds
- were in prison for the whole of the week of September 21 to 27, 2026
- get Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) or income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and you lived in a care home for the whole time from June 23, 2025, or earlier
If you are subject to immigration control you cannot make a clam for a winter fuel payment and any claims will be disallowed.
How much you will get paid if eligible
If you live alone or no-one you live with is eligible for the winter fuel payment you’ll get either £200 if you were born between September 28, 1946, and June 27, 1960, or £300 if you were born before September 28, 1946.
If you live with someone else who’s eligible for the winter fuel payment your payment may be different if you get one of the following benefits:
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
If you don’t receive any of those benefits you’ll get a payment of:
- £100 if you and the person you live with were both born between September 28, 1946, and June 27, 1960
- £100 if you were born between September 28, 1946, and June 27, 1960, but the person you live with was born before September 28, 1946
- £200 if you were born before September 28, 1946, but the person you live with was born between September 28, 1946, and June 27, 1960
- £150 if you and the person you live with were both born before September 28, 1946
If you and your partner jointly claim any of the benefits one of you will get a payment into the same bank account your benefits are paid into of either:
- £200 if both of you were born between September 28, 1946 and June 27, 1960
- £300 if one or both of you were born before September 28, 1946
If you get any of the benefits you’ll get a payment of either:
- £200 if you were born between September 28, 1946 and June 27, 1960
- £300 if you were born before September 28, 1946
If you live in a care home and are eligible for the payment you’ll get either:
- £100 if you were born between September 28, 1946, and June 27, 1960
- £150 if you were born before September 28, 1946
