Overview

• Automatic one-off payments of £100–£300 will be made in November and December to most pensioners in England and Wales under the restored scheme.
• Eligibility is targeted by a £35,000 per-person taxable income threshold, with one partner able to keep their share if under the limit even if the other exceeds it.
• Those over the threshold who receive the payment will have it recovered by HMRC through PAYE in 2026/27 or via Self Assessment for 2025/26.
• Pensioners can opt out via a GOV.UK form or by contacting the Winter Fuel Payment Centre by post or telephone, with an HMRC tool available to check income.
• Last year’s means-testing was estimated to save about £1.3 billion, providing context for the decision to restore broader eligibility this winter.