The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed automatic payments of up to £300 for state pensioners this winter.

The money is a Winter Fuel Payment that will be awarded to eligible pensioners in England and Wales from November this year to help low income households with heating costs during the winter. The eligibility criteria for the 2026/27 Winter Fuel Payments have been confirmed by the DWP, with those born before June 28, 1960, in line to receive payments. How much you get from the DWP depends on your circumstances, but the payments are worth between £100 and £300, and will start to roll out to pensioner households that qualify from November.

Pensioners with a total income over £35,000 will have their Winter Fuel Payment automatically taken back by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), either by a change in tax code or by adding the amount to Self Assessment tax returns.

The DWP has confirmed that pensioners who are eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment will receive between £100 and £300 in the 2026/27 tax year, with those born between September 28, 1946 and June 27, 1960, due to get £200 and those born before September 28, 1946, due to get £300.

If you get Pension Credit, Universal Credit or Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) then your payment amount may be different.

Most pensioners will receive the on the following 12 benefits will receive the Winter Fuel Payment automatically in November or December and don’t need to do anything to claim it:

• State Pension
• Pension Credit
• Universal Credit
• Attendance Allowance
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Carer’s Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• awards from the War Pensions Scheme
• Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
• Incapacity Benefit
• Industrial Death Benefit

If you don’t get any of these then you will need to submit a claim for the payment if either of the following apply:

• you’ve not got the Winter Fuel Payment before
• you’ve deferred your State Pension since your last Winter Fuel Payment

The DWP will send letters to eligible pensioners in October or November confirming the payment amount and this will then be paid in November or December.

The DWP said: “Most payments are made automatically in November or December. You should get a letter telling you:

• how much you’ll get
• which bank account it will be paid into – this is usually the same account as your State Pension or other benefits

“If you do not get a letter or the money has not been paid into your account by 27 January 2027, contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.”