The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has updated the qualifying birth dates for the Winter Fuel Payment for the 2026 to 2027 season. Under the previous rules, individuals born before 22 September 1959 were eligible for the payment. However, for the upcoming winter, the eligibility criteria have been revised.
New Qualifying Birth Dates
Under the new DWP rules, you will receive £200 if you were born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960. Alternatively, you will receive £300 if you were born before 28 September 1946. In Scotland, this payment is known as the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, and for now, the eligibility criteria remain the same as in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The requirement to receive a means-tested benefit to qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment for 2024/25 will continue.
Income Threshold and Repayment
For the 2026/27 payment, anyone of state pension age will receive the payment regardless of their income. However, if your taxable income exceeds £35,000, HMRC will automatically recover the full amount of your Winter Fuel Payment. For most individuals, this will be done through PAYE or via your Self Assessment tax return if you already complete one. No one should be required to enter the tax system or file a Self Assessment solely to repay the Winter Fuel Payment. If you prefer not to receive the payment this year, you must opt out by 15 September 2025.
Living with an Eligible Partner
If you live with someone else who is also eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment, the amount you receive may differ based on whether you receive Pension Credit, Universal Credit, or income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). If you do not receive any of these benefits, the payment amounts are as follows:
- £100 if both you and the person you live with were born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960.
- £100 if you were born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960, but the person you live with was born before 28 September 1946.
- £200 if you were born before 28 September 1946, but the person you live with was born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960.
- £150 if both you and the person you live with were born before 28 September 1946.
These changes aim to streamline the payment process and ensure that eligible individuals receive the support they need during the winter months.
