Overview
- In late August 2026 the DWP published formal guidance saying people born on or before 27 June 1960 may get a Winter Fuel Payment worth between £100 and £300 based on age and circumstances.
- The amount a person or household receives is determined by the qualifying week of 21 to 27 September 2026, which the DWP will use to check where someone was living and their status.
- The DWP named four exclusion groups who cannot get the payment: people who usually live outside England, Wales or Northern Ireland; those in hospital receiving free treatment for the whole qualifying week and the same week the year before; people whose immigration leave bars public funds; and people in prison for the whole qualifying week.
- Most eligible people on listed benefits will be paid automatically in November or December and will get a letter in October or November, while others must claim or may opt out by the DWP deadlines in September 2026.
- HMRC has begun contacting more than one million pensioners about tax‑code changes to reclaim payments from those with incomes around or above £35,000, with repayments spread through PAYE or self‑assessment and reports estimating monthly deductions of roughly £17 for under‑80s and £25 for over‑80s.