When and how will you be paid?
Most eligible people are paid automatically in November or December 2026, into the same account their State Pension or other benefits are usually paid into. Before the money arrives, you should receive a letter in October or November telling you how much you will get and which account it will go into. If either the letter or the money fails to arrive, there is a clear date by which to act — see the if not paid guide.
The timeline for winter 2026 to 2027
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 21 to 27 September 2026 | The qualifying week. Your circumstances during this week decide eligibility and amount. |
| From 21 September 2026 | Postal claims open for people who need to claim. |
| October or November 2026 | Letters are sent, stating the amount and the account to be paid. |
| From 19 October 2026 | Phone claims open for people who need to claim. |
| November or December 2026 | Most automatic payments are made. |
| 27 January 2027 | If you have no letter and no payment by this date, contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre. |
| 31 March 2027 | Deadline for claims for winter 2026 to 2027. |
| From 21 December 2026 | Opt-out opens for winter 2027 to 2028 (the 2026 to 2027 opt-out window has closed). |
Do you need to claim?
Most people do not need to claim. You do not need to claim if you get the State Pension, Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Attendance Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, Carer's Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, awards from the War Pensions Scheme, Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, Incapacity Benefit, or Industrial Death Benefit. You need to claim if you get none of those benefits and either you have not received a Winter Fuel Payment before, or you deferred your State Pension since your last Winter Fuel Payment.
To claim by post, fill in a Winter Fuel Payment claim form and send it to the Winter Fuel Payment Centre, Mail Handling Site A, Wolverhampton WV98 1LR. To claim by phone, call the Winter Fuel Payment Centre on 0800 731 0160, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. Before you call, you will need your National Insurance number, the date you were married or entered into a civil partnership (if appropriate), and your bank or building society details. You will also need to say whether, during the qualifying week, you were in hospital receiving free in-patient treatment, in a residential care home or Ilford Park Resettlement Home, or in prison. If you cannot hear or speak on the phone, contact Relay UK on 18001 followed by 0800 731 0160, or use the British Sign Language video relay service.
Opting out, and the £35,000 recovery
If your total income is over £35,000, HMRC will take the payment back — usually through your tax code, or through your Self Assessment return if you file one. GOV.UK gives an illustration: if HMRC is already collecting a 2025 payment and your tax code changes in January 2027 to start collecting the 2026 payment, you would pay roughly £30 to £33 more tax each month if your Winter Fuel Payment is £200 in both years. If you do not opt out, HMRC will change your tax code again in April 2027 to continue collecting the 2026 payment and start collecting the 2027 payment in advance. You can opt out of receiving the payment altogether if your income is over £35,000 or you simply do not want it, and you can opt back in again by contacting the Winter Fuel Payment Centre before 31 March 2027 for this winter. Note carefully: you can no longer opt out for 2026 to 2027; the opt-out that opens on 21 December 2026 is for 2027 to 2028.
If you disagree with a decision
If you disagree with a decision about your claim, you can challenge it by asking for a mandatory reconsideration. Keep your letter, note the date you received it, and act promptly, because challenge deadlines run from the decision date. The if not paid guide explains the first steps, and the FAQ covers the most common disagreements, such as a household amount that looks too low because a partner's benefit status was recorded incorrectly.
This site gives general information only. It is not legal or financial advice, and it cannot decide your own case. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) decide each concrete case on its own facts. Always check the current GOV.UK guidance before you act, because rates and rules change.
Main source: GOV.UK, “Winter Fuel Payment” guide (winter 2026 to 2027), checked 25 October 2026. gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment.