Winter Fuel Payment claims open in days – everything you need to know including how to opt out

The Winter Fuel Payment is set to help millions of pensioners with the costs of rising energy bills.

Most people will automatically receive the payment, worth up to £300, if they qualify.

However, some households will need to make a claim and you can start this process from 21 September 2026.

If you want to opt out you will need to do so in the coming days - the latest deadline is 20 September.

Here's everything you need to know about who qualifies, and how the new income rule works.

Who needs to claim for the Winter Fuel Payment?

You qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment if you were born on or before 27 June 1960 and usually live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland.

If you are eligible, you should receive a letter from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in October or November giving an overview of the benefit including how much you'll receive.

If you don't claim the state pension or other selected benefits including Universal Credit, Pension Credit or Carer's Allowance, you could need to make a claim if you haven't received the Winter Fuel Payment before or you’ve deferred your State Pension since your last Winter Fuel Payment.

Claims for the 2026/27 Winter Fuel Payment open on 21 September 2026.

You should be bale to claim at gov.uk from this date.

Should I opt out of the Winter Fuel Payment?

If your personal total income is more than £35,000, HMRC will take the payment back by adjusting your PAYE tax code or adding to your self-assessment tax form.

You will then need to either put the cash aside or budget for the money to be paid back.

If you'd rather not receive it in the first place, you can opt out.

You can do this by calling the helpline 0800 731 0160 before 6pm on 18 September 2026.

Or you can complete the opt out form before 11.59pm on 20 September, or if you get the State Pension you can manage the benefit through your account before 11.59pm on 20 September.

You can opt back in buy to get the payment for winter 2026 to 2027 you need to request this before 31 March 2027.

You can contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre on 0800 731 0160.

How much in the 2026 Winter Fuel Payment?

If you are eligible for the benefit, you will received a letter confirming your payment in October or November.

The amount your receive depends on your circumstances:

If you live alone, or no one else you live with is eligible for the payment, you could receive:

• £200 if you were born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960

• £300 if you were born before 28 September 1946

If you live with someone who is also eligible, and neither receives qualifying benefits.

You will receive:

• £100 each if both people were born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960.

• £100 if you were born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960 and the other eligible person was born before 28 September 1946.

• £200 if you were born before 28 September 1946 and the other eligible person was born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960.

• £150 each if both people were born before 28 September 1946.

If you and your partner jointly claim a qualifying benefit, one payment is made for the household:

• £200 if both of you were born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960.

• £300 if one or both of you were born before 28 September 1946.

When will the Winter Fuel Payment be paid?

If you qualify, payments should be expected to arrive in November or December 2026, just as temperatures start to drop.

If you are eligible but do not receive a payment when expected, check your letter for the details and contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.

What other cold weather and winter benefits can I receive?

If you are worried about energy bills, check if you can receive more support on top of the Winter Fuel Payment.

• The Warm Home Discount provides a one-off £150 discount on your electricity bill.

You can qualify if you receive certain means-tested benefits, including Universal Credit, and your name, or your partner's name, is on the electricity bill.

The discount is normally applied automatically to your electricity bill rather than being paid directly to you.

Six million households are expected to receive the £150 discount this winter.

The Warm Home Discount is usually applied automatically, so you don't normally need to make a separate claim.

But it is important to check that the correct person is named on their electricity bill.

• Cold Weather Payments are paid when it's very cold to help people receiving certain benefits with the extra cost of heating.

The payment is £25 for each seven-day period when the average temperature in your area is recorded or forecast to be 0°C or below for seven consecutive days.

For winter 2026/27, Cold Weather Payments will run from 1 November 2026 to 31 March 2027.

If you're eligible, the payment should be made automatically.