Need to know
All you need to know as the Department for Work and Pensions confirms key June date to get money later this year
Winter fuel payment deadline – need to know
- The Department for Work and Pensions has announced a crucial deadline for those hoping to receive up to £300 in Winter Fuel Payments this year.
- To qualify for the 2026/27 payment, individuals must have been born before 28 June 1960, with eligible recipients receiving between £100 and £300 to help cover heating expenses.
- Parliamentary Under-Secretary Torsten Bell explained the cut-off date, stating: “A person needs to be born on or before 27 June 1960 to have reached State Pension age by the end of the qualifying week to be eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2026/27.”
- The payments are calculated on individual income rather than household income, with Bell noting: “The £35,000 threshold means that more than three-quarters of pensioners will benefit from the Winter Fuel Payment.”
- Pensioners can now opt out of receiving the payment to avoid having to repay it later through the tax system. HMRC will automatically reclaim payments from higher earners by adjusting their tax codes.
- From April 2026, those anticipating income above the threshold can decline payments by contacting the Winter Fuel Payment Centre or completing an online form using their National Insurance number.
- For a typical £200 payment, tax deductions could increase from around £17 to £33 monthly for those who don’t opt out but exceed the income threshold.
- READ THE FULL STORY: Exact date people born by to get 2026 winter fuel payment confirmed by DWP
