Older state pensioners on their own given extra £300 by DWP | Personal Finance | Finance
Older state pensioners living on their own will be given an extra £300 from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) this winter to help with heating bills.
The criteria for this year’s Winter Fuel Payment has been confirmed by the DWP this month following the start of the 2026/27 tax year on April 6, with money to be rolled out to eligible households later this year. Payments are worth between £100 and £300 and will be awarded to pensioners in England and Wales who meet the eligibility criteria to help pay heating bills this winter. Those who have a total income over £35,000 will see the Winter Fuel Payment automatically clawed back by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), either by changing your tax code, or adding the amount to your Self Assessment tax return.
The DWP has confirmed that pensioners born before September 28, 1946, who are living on their own will be awarded £300 Winter Fuel Payments.
If you’re eligible, you’ll receive a letter from the DWP in October or November confirming how much you’ll get, and your payment should follow automatically in November or December 2026.
Younger state pensioners born between September 28, 1946 and June 27, 1960, who live alone will be awarded a £200 Winter Fuel Payment.
If you live with someone else who’s eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment then your payment may be different, with amounts varying from £100, £150, £200 and £300.
The exact amount you get is based on when you were born and your circumstances in the ‘qualifying week’ between September 21 and 27, 2026.
Most pensioners 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:
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.”
