Winter Fuel Payment & Cold Weather Payment 2026/27
For winter 2026 to 2027 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Most people are paid automatically in November or December 2026.
Winter Fuel Payment checker
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Winter Fuel Payment: the rules
- Who: born on or before 27 June 1960, and usually living in England, Wales or Northern Ireland during the qualifying week of 21 to 27 September 2026.
- How much: £100 to £300, depending on your age, who you live with and whether you get certain benefits. Living alone, it's £200 (or £300 if you were born before 28 September 1946).
- Income over £35,000: HMRC takes it back, usually through your tax code or your Self Assessment return. Only your own income counts. You can opt out.
- Claiming: most people are paid automatically. If you don't get State Pension or another qualifying benefit and haven't had it before, claim by post (from 21 September 2026) or phone (from 19 October 2026). The deadline is 31 March 2027.
- Scotland: there's no Winter Fuel Payment, but you may get the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.
Cold Weather Payment
- £25 for each 7-day period when your area's average temperature is recorded or forecast at 0°C or below, between 1 November 2026 and 31 March 2027.
- Who: people getting Pension Credit, or certain claimants of Universal Credit, income-related ESA or Support for Mortgage Interest (for example, with limited capability for work or a child under 5). It's paid automatically and doesn't affect other benefits.
- Not available in Scotland, where there's a Winter Heating Payment instead.
Other help this winter
- Warm Home Discount: £150 off your bill if you get Pension Credit or live in a low-income household.
- Your council may offer cost-of-living help.
- Your energy supplier must help if you can't pay: ask about a repayment plan or emergency credit.
- See what the next price cap might mean on the January 2027 price cap page.
Sources: GOV.UK Winter Fuel Payment (how much you'll get, income over £35,000), GOV.UK Cold Weather Payment. Care home residents have different rules, so check GOV.UK. Beware of scam texts about winter payments: GOV.UK never asks for bank details by text.
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Who gets the Winter Fuel Payment in 2026/27?
People born on or before 27 June 1960 who usually live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. Most are paid automatically in November or December 2026. If your income is over £35,000, HMRC takes it back.
How much is the Winter Fuel Payment 2026?
Between £100 and £300. If you live alone (or no one you live with is eligible), it's £200, or £300 if you were born before 28 September 1946.
How much is the Cold Weather Payment?
£25 for each 7-day period of very cold weather (0°C or below on average) between 1 November 2026 and 31 March 2027, if you get a qualifying benefit.
Kit list: Winter energy-saving kit: cheap fixes that cut heating waste. (Our page. It includes Amazon affiliate links.)
Related calculators & guides
Winter energy-saving kit · Meter reading → £ · Energy price cap Jan 2027 · Universal Credit · Council tax discount
- Plug-in energy usage monitor (Amazon)
- Radiator reflector foil (Amazon)
- Door draught excluder (Amazon)