Millions of state pensioners lost their £300 Winter Fuel Payment after the government announced the benefit would become means tested. It meant that for the vast majority of state pensioners, they were no longer able to get a winter fuel allowance payment unless they claimed the right benefits.
Since then, Sir Keir Starmer announced a partial U-turn over the benefit, returning the £200 or £300 payment to every state pensioner, and then taking it back from pensioners in tax if they earn more than £35,000 per year. It means every state pensioner will be paid the money, and only those earning £35,000 or more in a year will have to give it back to HMRC in tax.
But what many don’t realise is that if you do keep your Winter Fuel Payment this coming winter, the exact amount you get paid in the first place changes depending on the year you were born, and possibly because of other circumstances too.
The Winter Fuel Payment will for 2026 once again be paid automatically to all state pensioners, but the amount changes depending on your age.
The government has a system called “qualifying week” which is the effective cut-off date to get Winter Fuel Payment for the upcoming winter. The amount you get, too, is based around this week.
For 2026, the amount you get is based on when you were born and your circumstances between September 21 and 27, 2026. This is called the “qualifying week”.
Those who are of state pension age but aged under 80, so born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960 will get a £200 payment, whereas those aged over 80 – so born before 28 September 1946 – will get an instant £100 increase, giving them a £300 payment instead.
This means that if you are now aged over 80 and qualify, your Winter Fuel Payment will be increased from £200 to £300.
Most people who qualify will get a letter telling them how much they will get and which bank account this will be paid into – which is usually the same as for your Pension Credit or other benefits.
The government adds: “The deadline for you to make a claim for winter 2025 to 2026 was 31 March 2026. Claims for winter 2026 to 2027 open from 21 September 2026.”