The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that some state pensioners will be excluded from the Winter Fuel Payment this autumn and winter due to a strict one-week rule. Certain groups of DWP state pension claimants will not receive the £100, £150, £200 or £300 handouts because of the eligibility criteria.
Who misses out under the one-week rule
Pensioners who were in hospital for a whole week in September will not qualify for the payment. Additionally, anyone who was in prison for the entire week of 21 to 27 September 2026, known as the qualifying week, will also be ineligible.
The payment amount ranges from £100 to £300, depending on the claimant's age and household circumstances. However, eligibility is also based on income. Anyone whose total personal income exceeds £35,000 during the relevant tax year must repay the payment in full.
How repayment is handled
In most cases, the money will be recovered automatically through the tax system. HMRC will adjust the person's tax code in the 2026 to 2027 tax year. The repayment appears as an underpayment, meaning slightly higher tax deductions will be taken each month.
Most people get the Winter Fuel Payment automatically if they are eligible. You do not need to claim if you get the State Pension from the DWP, or Pension Credit, or Universal Credit, or Attendance Allowance.
Other benefits and claiming rules
Other benefits that mean you will not have to claim include Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Carer’s Allowance and Disability Living Allowance (DLA). The DWP also lists income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), awards from the War Pensions Scheme, Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit and Incapacity Benefit, as well as Industrial Death Benefit.
If you do not get any of these benefits, you need to claim if either of the following applies: you have not got the Winter Fuel Payment before, or you have deferred your State Pension since your last Winter Fuel Payment.
