Check if HMRC will recover your Winter Fuel Payment
If you know how much you earn you can check if you’ll need to pay it backOpens in a new window via a checking tool on GOV.UK.
Winter Fuel Payment deadline to opt out
Last updated:
28 August 2025
New rules mean that while more people will get the Winter Fuel Payment this winter, anyone who gets the payment and earns over £35,000 will need to pay it back via the tax system. If you would prefer to avoid having the money deducted each month, you can opt out by phone or an online form. If you live in England or Wales you have until 14 September 2025.
Can I get the Winter Fuel Payment?
If you are over State Pension age - this means you will have been born before 22 September 1959 - and live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, you can get the payment. But depending on your income, you might need to pay it back via the tax system.
What if I live in Scotland?
If you live in Scotland, you can’t get the Winter Fuel Payment, instead you can get the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, worth up to £305.10. Like the Winter Fuel Payment, you will need to pay it back if you earn over £35,000. You can also opt out of this payment, but a deadline has not been announced. For more information on how Pension Age Winter Heating Payment worksOpens in a new window visit mygov.scot.
How much you get depends on your circumstances in ‘qualifying week’
How much you get depends on your age, who you live with, their age and your circumstances between the 15 and 21 of September 2025. This is called ‘qualifying week’.
You’ll get a letter in October or November telling you how much Winter Fuel Payment you’ll get.
If you live with a partner and are both aged over 80 years during ‘qualifying week’ you will get a higher payment. If you are aged 66 to 79 years you will get a lower payment.
| Your age during qualifying week | Your individual payment if you live alone | Your individual payment if you live with a partner aged 80 years or over | Your individual payment if you live with a partner aged 66 to 79 years |
|---|---|---|---|
|
66 to 79 years |
£200 |
£100 |
£100 |
|
80 years or over |
£300 |
£150 |
£150 |
The only time you will get a joint payment for your household is if you get means-tested benefits. Then one payment will be made to the ‘lead claimant’ of the benefit claim on behalf of both members of the couple. For more information on how much winter fuel payment you’ll getOpens in a new window, visit GOV.UK.
Can I get the payment if I live in a nursing home?
Maybe. If you claim either Universal Credit, Pension Credit or Employment and Support Allowance and live in a care home from 23 June to 21 September 2025 you cannot get the Winter Fuel payment. However, if you live in a nursing home and do not claim these benefits, you can get £100 if you are aged 66 to 79 years or £150 if you are aged 80 years or over.
You will need to pay back your Winter Fuel Payment if you earn over £35,000
While everyone over State Pension age will get the payment, some will need to pay it all back. If your personal taxable income is over £35,000 between 6 April 2025 to 5 April 2026 HMRC will take back your payment via the tax system.
Taxable income includes money you earn from:
- State Pension
- Private Pension (workplace or personal)
- Dividends
- Employment
- Rent
- Savings interest
- Self-employment
- State benefits
- State benefits which are taxable – if you’re not sure which benefits are taxableOpens in a new window, you can check on GOV.UK.
If you live in England or Wales the deadline to opt out is 14 September
If you know your income will be above the £35,000 a year, you can choose to simply not get the payment and avoid having it taken back later.
To opt out, you’ll need to call the Winter Fuel Payment Centre on 0800 731 0160Opens in a new window or complete the online opt out formOpens in a new window before the 14 September 2025. You'll need your National Insurance number.
You can opt back in until 31 March 2026
If you opt out and your circumstances change, you'll be able to opt back in by contacting the Winter Fuel Payment CentreOpens in a new window before 31 March 2026.
If you live in Northern Ireland, the deadline to opt out hasn’t been announced
If you live in Northern Ireland and you know your income will be above the £35,000 a year, you can choose to simply not get the payment and avoid having it taken back later. There is no deadline as yet. You can find more information at the Winter Fuel Payment CentreOpens in a new window on nidirect.
Your earnings do not affect your partner’s payment
If your personal taxable income is over £35,000 but your partner’s isn’t, HMRC will take back your payment but your partner will be able to keep theirs.
How will HMRC take back your payment?
If you don’t usually file self-assessment tax returns, HMRC will change your tax code and you will receive a Tax Code Notice letter.
Changing your tax code will mean your Winter Fuel Payment will be deducted from your income and paid to HMRC in monthly instalments across the 2026-2027 tax year, from April 2026.
For example, if you got a payment of £200 but have an income of over £35,000, you will pay back around £17 every month.
If you file a self-assessment tax return online each year, HMRC will automatically include the payment on your tax return as part of your income from tax year 2026 to 2027.
If you file a paper self- assessment tax return, you’ll need to include the payment on your tax return.
What happens if my circumstances change?
The amount you can get for this winter is based on your circumstances during the ‘qualifying week’ - 15 to 21 September 2025. If your circumstances change after qualifying week, the amount of the Winter Fuel Payment will not be revised for that winter but would be for future years.
For example, if you reach State Pension age after qualifying week this year, you won’t get this winter’s payment, but will get it in future years. The same applies if your living situation changes – such as moving in with a partner, if you turn 80 or start living alone – your new rate will apply next year.
