Winter Fuel Payment - Can I get a Winter Fuel Payment?

All pensioners in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will receive a Winter Fuel Payment during winter 2025/26, unless you choose to opt out. 

You will be eligible if:

• You were born before 22 September 1959, and
• you lived in England, Wales or Northern Ireland during the qualifying week, which is 15 to 17 September 2025

If your annual income is more than £35,000, you will have to pay back your Winter Fuel Payment. This will be done by HMRC after the payment has been made. 

Opting out of the Winter Fuel Payment 

You can opt out of receiving a Winter Fuel Payment by completing an online form, or by calling the Winter Fuel Payment Centre before 15 September 2025. 

You can contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre by phone: 

• Telephone: 0800 731 0160
• Textphone: contact Relay UK on 18001 then 0800 731 0160
• British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service

If you want to opt in after you have already opted out, you should contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre before 31 March 2026. Some people might prefer to receive the payment instead of opting out, to cover the extra costs in the winter months. 

Repaying if your income is above £35,000

You will not be eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment if your annual income is more than £35,000. HMRC will recover the amount paid by changing your tax code in the 2026 to 2027 tax year . If you submit a Self-Assessment tax return, it will be added to your 2025 to 2026 tax year .

You can check if your income is over the threshold on the government's website. 

Scotland

In Scotland, the Winter Fuel Payment has been replaced by a new benefit called Pension Age Winter Heating Payment. It will have the same eligibility criteria as the Winter Fuel Payment in the rest of the UK, and will launch in autumn 2025.

If you live abroad

If you live outside of England, Wales or Northern Ireland you are not eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment.

If you live in a care home

If you live in a care home and both of the following conditions apply, you will not be eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment: 

• You get Pension Credit, Universal Credit, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Income Support 
• You have lived in a care home full time since 23 June 2025 or earlier 

Hospital and prison

If you were in hospital getting free treatment, or in prison during the whole week of 15 to 21 September 2025, you will not be eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment