Older state pensioners living alone get extra £300 from DWP | Personal Finance | Finance
Older state pensioners living on alone are due to get an extra £300 payment from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to help with heating bills this winter.
As the 2026/27 tax year is now under way, the DWP has confirmed the eligibility criteria for this year’s upcoming Winter Fuel Payment, which will automatically roll out to eligible households from November. Winter Fuel Payments are worth between £100 and £300 and are awarded to low income pensioner households in England and Wales to help cover energy costs during the colder months. Higher earning pensioner households with an income over £35,000 will see their 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.
This year, the DWP has confirmed that older pensioners born before September 28, 1946, (so those aged 80 or over) who are living on their own will be awarded a Winter Fuel Payment of £300.
Letters will be sent out by the DWP to eligible households in October or November confirming how much you’ll get, and payments are then due to follow automatically in November or December.
Younger state pensioners born between September 28, 1946 and June 27, 1960, (so those under 80) who live alone will be awarded Winter Fuel Payments worth £200.
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.”
