The Department for Work and Pensions has issued a warning for state pensioners who face having to surrender their Winter Fuel Allowances this winter. The DWP has taken to X, formerly Twitter, where it has issued a warning: “If your income is over £35,000, Winter Fuel Payment is recovered through your tax. If you’d prefer not to receive it, you can opt out. Deadlines apply in September.”
Opt-Out Process and Deadlines
The DWP said: “To opt out of getting Winter Fuel Payments, you need to either complete the opt out form before 11:59pm on 20 September 2026 or call the helpline before 6pm on 18 September 2026. You’ll need to provide your National Insurance number when you use the online form or call the helpline.”
“If your total income is over £35,000 and you did not opt out, HMRC will take your Winter Fuel Payment back. You cannot return it yourself. You can check how HMRC will take it back.”
Future Payments and Re-Opting In
“You do not need to opt out every year. You will not receive Winter Fuel Payment in future years unless you opt in again. You can opt in again by contacting the Winter Fuel Payment Centre. To get a payment for winter 2026 to 2027 you need to contact them before 31 March 2027.”
Payment Amounts and Household Rules
Eligible households with a person under 80 automatically receive £200 a year in November or December, while homes with a person over 80 receive £300. The payments are halved if one household has two pensioners living together. If one of them has an income of more than £35,000 and the other earns less than £35,000, the higher-income pensioner will not receive any payment and the lower-income pensioner will receive half the payment.
Pensioners above the £35,000 annual income threshold, which the Treasury said was “broadly in line with average earnings”, will have the payment automatically recovered or be able to opt out. This will apply to about two million people.
