Winter Fuel Payment claims now open - do you need to apply for benefit worth up to £300?

Energy bills will jump again next month putting extra pressure on pensioner budgets.

The Winter Fuel Payment worth up to £300 can be a lifeline for household grappling with higher costs.

Millions will receive the payment automatically, but some people need to make a claim with applications now open.

To avoid missing out on support, it's important you act if you need to.

At the same time, those with an annual income above £35,000 face new rules which could see the payment effectively clawed back through the tax system.

The deadline to opt has now passed, but we explain how to do it for future reference.

Who can claim Winter Fuel Payment?

You may qualify if:

• You were born on or before 27 June 1960

• You usually live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland

Most eligible pensioners will receive a letter from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in October or November explaining how much they will get.

Who needs to claim for the Winter Fuel Payment?

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 are now open.

You can apply for the 2026 Winter Fuel Payment using the linked form on the .gov website.

New Winter Fuel Payment income rules explained

This winter marks the first full year of the government's new income test.

Anyone whose individual annual income exceeds £35,000 can still receive the Winter Fuel Payment, but the money will effectively be recovered by HMRC through their PAYE tax code or Self Assessment tax return.

This means some pensioners could find themselves having to repay the full amount through the tax system.

Can you opt out?

Yes, you can but the deadline for opting out of 26/27 Winter Fuel Payment was 20 September.

If you opt out, you can later opt back in.

Usually, to opt out you need to call the Winter Fuel Payment helpline on 0800 731 0160, complete the government's online opt-out form or manage the payment through your State Pension account within the deadline.

When will Winter Fuel Payments be paid?

Payments are expected to arrive during November and December 2026.

Eligible pensioners should receive a notification letter beforehand confirming the amount due.

If you believe you qualify but do not receive a payment, contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.

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.

Extra help with energy bills this winter

The Winter Fuel Payment isn't the only support available.

If you are worried about energy bills, check if you can receive extra help.

• 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.