Winter Fuel Payment 2026/27: who gets £200 or £300 and who has to pay it back
Born on or before 30 September 1960 and you get it automatically. Earn over £35,000 and HMRC takes it back through tax
The Winter Fuel Payment returns this winter for almost everyone over State Pension age, but with a catch for higher-income pensioners: the money is paid first and clawed back through the tax system later. This guide explains who qualifies for winter 2026/27, how much you get, how the £35,000 income test works and why it is now too late to opt out for this year.
Who qualifies
You qualify for winter 2026/27 if you were born on or before 30 September 1960 and live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. That date is the cut-off for reaching State Pension age during the qualifying week in September 2026. You do not need to be receiving Pension Credit or any other benefit. There is no claim form for most people; the payment arrives automatically if you receive the State Pension or another qualifying benefit.
If you have never claimed the State Pension or any benefit, you may need to claim the payment. Check on gov.uk if nothing has arrived by mid-January.
How much you get
| Household | Payment |
|---|---|
| Someone born on or before 30 September 1960, nobody 80 or over | £200 |
| Someone in the household aged 80 or over | £300 |
The payment is per household, not per person. A couple where both qualify share one payment, usually split in half between them. People in care homes and those on certain benefits have different rules; check gov.uk for your situation.
The £35,000 clawback
The payment is made to everyone who qualifies, but if your individual taxable income for 2026/27 is over £35,000 HMRC recovers the full amount. It is a cliff edge, not a taper: at £35,001 you repay it all.
The test is your own income, not your household's. A couple where one partner has £40,000 and the other £15,000 keeps half the payment: the higher-earning partner's share is recovered, the other's is not.
Taxable income includes State Pension, private and workplace pensions, employment income, rental profit and savings interest above your allowances. It does not include ISA income or the tax-free part of any pension lump sum.
Recovery works in one of two ways:
- PAYE. If you pay tax through a pension or employer, HMRC adjusts your tax code so the amount is collected across the year. You will see it on a coding notice.
- Self assessment. If you file a tax return, the payment is added to your bill for 2026/27, due by 31 January 2028.
You do not need to do anything to trigger recovery; HMRC matches payment records to tax records.
Too late to opt out this winter
Anyone who knew they would be over the £35,000 line and did not want the money paid and then recovered could opt out before the September deadline. That deadline has passed. If you are over the threshold, expect the payment to land and the clawback to follow. Set the money aside rather than spending it, or treat the tax code change as neutral. If you want to opt out for winter 2027/28, note the deadline when it is announced next summer.
Scotland
Scotland runs its own Pension Age Winter Heating Payment through Social Security Scotland. Eligibility is by age and residence, and the amounts and income rules differ from the scheme in the rest of the UK. Check mygov.scot rather than gov.uk if you live in Scotland.
Other help this winter
- Pension Credit tops up income to £238 a week single or £363.25 a couple, and unlocks other support. Claims can be backdated three months.
- The Warm Home Discount gives £150 off electricity bills for most households on means-tested benefits, now applied automatically.
- The Priority Services Register is free and gives extra support from energy suppliers.
What to do next
- Check your date of birth against 30 September 1960 and watch for the payment in November or December.
- Work out whether your own taxable income for 2026/27 will exceed £35,000 and, if so, set the money aside.
- If your income is low, check Pension Credit eligibility on gov.uk now.