DWP confirms £300 and £200 lump sum payments for state pensioners | Personal Finance | Finance
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed lump sum payments of £300 and £200 for eligible state pensioners this year.
The money is a Winter Fuel Payment that will be awarded to eligible pensioners in England and Wales born before June 28, 1960 later this year to help cover heating costs over the winter months. The DWP has confirmed the eligibility criteria for the 2026/27 tax year, with payments due to be issued to pensioner households in November or December. The amount pensioners receive from the DWP is dependent on age and circumstances during the qualifying week, which this year falls between September 21 and 27, 2026.
For this tax year, the DWP has confirmed that pensioners born between September 28, 1946 and June 27, 1960, who live alone will get a lump sum payment of £200, while older pensioners born before September 28, 1946, will get a £300 payment.
If you live with someone else who’s eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment, your payment may be different if you get Pension Credit, Universal Credit or income-related Employment and Support Allowance.
Pensioners who are elgible will receive a letter from the DWP in October or November confirming their payment amount and most people will receive their lump sum before January.
The DWP said: “You’ll get a letter in October or November telling you how much winter fuel payment you’ll get, if you’re eligible. If you do not get a letter but think you’re eligible, check if you need to make a claim.
“The amount you get is based on when you were born and your circumstances between 21 and September 27, 2026. This is called the ‘qualifying week’. Any money you get will not affect your other benefits.
“If your income is over £35,000, HMRC will take your winter fuel payment back by either:
- Changing your tax code
- Adding the amount to your Self Assessment tax return.
“If you live alone or no one you live with is eligible for the winter fuel payment, you’ll get either:
- £200 if you were born between September 28, 1946 and June 27, 1960
- £300 if you were born before September 28, 1946.”
Most pensioners will receive the payment automatically and don’t need to do anything to claim it if you get any of the following benefits:
- 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 applies:
- You’ve not got the winter fuel payment before
- You’ve deferred your State Pension since your last winter fuel payment
The DWP added: “If you do not get a letter or the money has not been paid into your account by January 27, 2027, contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.”
