Winter Fuel Payment in UK 2026 show 10.9 million recipients in England and Wales for winter 2025 to 2026, up 9.6 million from the means-tested winter before. Payments ranged from £100 to £300, with 38% of recipients getting £200 and 17% getting £300.
Winter Fuel Payment in UK 2026 – Introduction
Winter Fuel Payment in UK swung sharply between winters. In winter 2024 to 2025, only 1.3 million people in England and Wales received the payment, because the government limited it to pensioners on certain means-tested benefits. In winter 2025 to 2026, most pensioners born on or before 21 September 1959 received it again, and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) recorded 10.9 million recipients. That is 290 thousand more than the last universal winter, 2023 to 2024.
This report sets out the latest official numbers in plain terms. You will see recipient totals over six winters, the split between the £100, £150, £200 and £300 payments, an implied spending figure, regional and local authority breakdowns, the £35,000 income charge, and the position in Scotland. DWP published the figures on 15 September 2026. They cover England and Wales only, because Scotland now runs its own scheme.
Interesting Facts About Winter Fuel Payment in UK 2026
KEY 2025 TO 2026 WINTER FUEL PAYMENT NUMBERS (each █ = 1 million)
Recipients, England and Wales | ███████████ 10.9
Beneficiaries | ███████████ 11.0
Under-80 recipients | ████████ 7.7
Recipients in 2024 to 2025 | █ 1.3
| Fact | Winter 2025 to 2026 Data |
|---|---|
| Recipients, England and Wales | 10.9 million |
| Beneficiaries (recipients plus eligible partners) | 11 million |
| Increase on winter 2024 to 2025 | 9.6 million |
| Increase on winter 2023 to 2024 | 290 thousand (3%) |
| Recipients under 80 | 7.7 million (70%) |
| Pensioners who opted out | 53,000 |
| Payment range | £100 to £300 |
| Income level where HMRC recovers the payment | Over £35,000 |
| UK pensioners affected by recovery | About 2.2 million |
Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Winter Fuel Payment statistics for winter 2025 to 2026 (.gov.uk), published 15 September 2026; House of Commons Library, 2026.
The headline figure is 10.9 million recipients. Add eligible pension-age partners, mainly of Pension Credit households, and the number of beneficiaries reaches 11 million. The total is 9.6 million above the previous winter, when only means-tested benefit claimants qualified. It is 3% above winter 2023 to 2024, when the payment was universal.
Age and income shape who keeps the money. 70% of recipients, or 7.7 million, were under 80. HMRC recovers the payment from anyone with income above £35,000, and an estimated 2.2 million UK pensioners face that charge. The DWP count excludes 53,000 pensioners who opted out before payment, and it excludes later HMRC recoveries.
Winter Fuel Payment in UK 2026: Recipients by Winter Since 2020
WINTER FUEL PAYMENT RECIPIENTS IN MILLIONS (each █ = 0.5 million)
2020 to 2021 | ████████████████████ 10.1
2021 to 2022 | ████████████████████ 10.2
2022 to 2023 | █████████████████████ 10.4
2023 to 2024 | █████████████████████ 10.6
2024 to 2025 | ███ 1.3
2025 to 2026 | ██████████████████████ 10.9
| Winter | Recipients (Millions) |
|---|---|
| 2020 to 2021 | 10.1 |
| 2021 to 2022 | 10.2 |
| 2022 to 2023 | 10.4 |
| 2023 to 2024 | 10.6 |
| 2024 to 2025 | 1.3 |
| 2025 to 2026 | 10.9 |
Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Winter Fuel Payment statistics for winter 2025 to 2026, Figure 1 (.gov.uk), September 2026. England and Wales.
Recipient numbers climbed slowly from 10.1 million in winter 2020 to 2021 to 10.6 million in 2023 to 2024, a rise of 0.5 million in three years. That growth likely reflects more people reaching State Pension age. Then the series broke. In winter 2024 to 2025, only 1.3 million people received a payment, a fall of 9.3 million, after the July 2024 policy change.
Winter 2025 to 2026 restored the old pattern at a higher level. The 10.9 million total sits 290 thousand above 2023 to 2024. DWP says the latest figures are most comparable with 2023 to 2024, because the 2024 to 2025 rules were so restricted. The 9.6 million jump from the previous winter is a policy effect, not population change.
2026 Winter Fuel Payment Amounts: Who Got £100, £150, £200 and £300
SHARE OF RECIPIENTS BY PAYMENT AMOUNT (each █ = 2%)
£100 | ██████████████████▌ 37%
£150 | ████▌ 9%
£200 | ███████████████████ 38%
£300 | ████████▌ 17%
| Payment Amount | Share of Recipients | Typical Situation |
|---|---|---|
| £100 | 37% | Under 80 or 80 and over, living with another qualifier |
| £150 | 9% | Aged 80 or over, living with someone 80 or over |
| £200 | 38% | Under 80 and living alone |
| £300 | 17% | Aged 80 or over and living alone |
Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Winter Fuel Payment statistics for winter 2025 to 2026, Table 1 and main stories (.gov.uk), September 2026.
Payments depend on age and household. A qualifier under 80 who lives alone gets £200, and one aged 80 or over gets £300. If the household has another qualifier, the payment drops to £100 or £200, or to £100 or £150 in some cases. Care home residents without certain benefits get £100 or £150. Shares sum to 101% because DWP rounds each percentage.
The split is close to even at the bottom. 37% of recipients got £100 and 38% got £200. Only 9% got £150, and 17% got the full £300. By age, 70% of recipients, or 7.7 million, were under 80, which leaves about 3.2 million, or 30%, aged 80 or over. In winter 2024 to 2025, just under two thirds of recipients, 62%, received £200.
2026 Winter Fuel Payment Spending: Implied Cost by Payment Amount
IMPLIED COST BY PAYMENT AMOUNT, £ MILLION (each █ = £25m)
£100 payments | ████████████████ 403
£150 payments | ██████ 147
£200 payments | █████████████████████████████████ 828
£300 payments | ██████████████████████ 556
| Payment Amount | Approx. Recipients | Implied Cost |
|---|---|---|
| £100 | 4.03 million | £403 million |
| £150 | 0.98 million | £147 million |
| £200 | 4.14 million | £828 million |
| £300 | 1.85 million | £556 million |
| Total | 10.9 million | About £1.93 billion |
Source: Calculated from Department for Work and Pensions recipient totals and payment shares (.gov.uk), September 2026; this report’s arithmetic, not an official outturn. House of Commons Library for the 2024 to 2025 projection.
DWP does not publish a spending total in this release, so this table multiplies the 10.9 million recipients by each payment share and amount. The result is about £1.93 billion, or an average payment near £178. The estimate is approximate, because DWP rounds shares and counts payments made before 6 July 2026. Treat it as a check on scale, not as official expenditure.
The result fits earlier forecasts. Before the July 2024 change, DWP expected 10.8 million recipients in England and Wales for winter 2024 to 2025, at a total cost of £1.9 billion. £200 payments are the biggest cost band at about £828 million, or 43% of the total, even though they match £100 payments for recipient numbers. The £300 band costs about £556 million, or 29%, from only 17% of recipients.
2026 Winter Fuel Payment Regional Breakdown: Payment Amounts by English Region and Wales
SHARE RECEIVING £200 OR £300 BY REGION (each █ = 5%)
London | █████████████ 65%
North West | ███████████▌ 56%
East | ██████████▌ 53%
Wales | ███████████ 55%
South West | ██████████▌ 52%
| Region | £100 | £150 | £200 | £300 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North East | 38% | 8% | 38% | 16% |
| North West | 36% | 8% | 39% | 17% |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 38% | 9% | 37% | 16% |
| East Midlands | 38% | 9% | 37% | 16% |
| West Midlands | 37% | 9% | 37% | 17% |
| East | 38% | 10% | 36% | 17% |
| London | 29% | 6% | 46% | 19% |
| South East | 37% | 10% | 36% | 17% |
| South West | 38% | 10% | 36% | 16% |
| Wales | 37% | 8% | 38% | 17% |
Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Winter Fuel Payment statistics for winter 2025 to 2026, Figure 3 (.gov.uk), September 2026.
London stands apart. 46% of its recipients got £200 and 19% got £300, so 65% received at least £200. Only 29% got £100, the lowest share of any region. That pattern is consistent with more single-person households in the capital, since people living alone qualify for the higher amounts. The chart above adds the two top bands for selected regions.
The rest of England and Wales sits in a narrow range. The share receiving £100 runs from 36% in the North West to 38% in several regions. The share receiving £300 runs from 16% in the North East, Yorkshire, the East Midlands and the South West to 17% in the North West, West Midlands, East, South East and Wales. The South West has the lowest share on £200 at 36%, matching the East and South East.
2026 Winter Fuel Payment Recipients by Local Authority: Highest and Lowest Areas
RECIPIENTS BY LOCAL AUTHORITY (each █ = 10,000)
North Yorkshire | ███████████████ 150,000
Birmingham | ██████████████ 140,000
Cornwall | ██████████████ 140,000
Rutland | █ 10,100
City of London | ▌ 1,200
Isles of Scilly | ▏ 500
| Local Authority | Recipients | Position |
|---|---|---|
| North Yorkshire | 150 thousand | Highest |
| Birmingham | 140 thousand | Second highest |
| Cornwall | 140 thousand | Second highest |
| Rutland | 10,100 | Third lowest |
| City of London | 1,200 | Second lowest |
| Isles of Scilly | 500 | Lowest |
Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Winter Fuel Payment statistics for winter 2025 to 2026, Figure 2 (.gov.uk), September 2026. Rounded by DWP.
North Yorkshire had the most recipients at 150 thousand, followed by Birmingham and Cornwall at 140 thousand each. Larger populations are the likeliest explanation for the top of the list. North Yorkshire is a big council area, and Birmingham is a large city. DWP rounds these figures, so differences of 10 thousand can reflect rounding.
The bottom of the table follows population size. The Isles of Scilly had 500 recipients, the City of London 1,200, and Rutland 10,100. These are small areas, so raw counts say little about need. For a fairer comparison, use the per-head and per-constituency tables in the DWP release. Every local authority and Westminster constituency appears in the accompanying data tables and on Stat-Xplore.
2026 Winter Fuel Payment Eligibility Rules and the £35,000 Income Charge
UK WINTER FUEL PAYMENT PAYMENTS AND RECOVERIES, MILLIONS (each █ = 1 million)
Expected to receive payments | ████████████ 12.3
Income over £35,000 | ██ 2.2
Expected net beneficiaries | ██████████ 10.2
| Rule or Measure | Winter 2025 to 2026 |
|---|---|
| Birth date to qualify | On or before 21 September 1959 |
| Qualifying week | 15 to 21 September 2025 |
| Qualifying age | 66 (State Pension age) |
| Payment range | £100 to £300 |
| Income threshold for recovery | Over £35,000 |
| UK expected to receive payments | 12.3 million |
| UK pensioners with recovered payments | About 2.2 million |
| Expected UK net beneficiaries | 10.2 million |
| Opt-outs recorded by DWP | 53,000 |
Source: Department for Work and Pensions (.gov.uk), September 2026; House of Commons Library, “Winter Fuel Payment from 2025/26,” 2026; HMRC Winter Fuel Payments charge policy paper (.gov.uk), November 2025.
Most pensioners qualify automatically. You must have been born on or before 21 September 1959, and eligibility depends on your situation during the qualifying week of 15 to 21 September 2025. Payments run from £100 to £300. Most are paid in November or December, though some payments extend through the year. People who have not claimed before, or who deferred their State Pension, may need to apply.
Income decides who keeps it. HMRC recovers the full payment from anyone with income over £35,000 through a tax charge. The House of Commons Library expected 12.3 million people across the UK to receive payments, with about 2.2 million above the income threshold, leaving 10.2 million net beneficiaries. HMRC collects the 2025 charge through tax codes for 2026/27, and self-assessment returns are due by 31 January 2027.
2026 Winter Fuel Payment in Scotland: Pension Age Winter Heating Payment Statistics
SCOTTISH PENSIONER HEATING SUPPORT (each █ = 100,000)
Payments in first year | ██████████▌ 1,055,000
Pensioners expected this year | ████████▌ 879,000
| Scottish Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Scheme name | Pension Age Winter Heating Payment |
| Payments in first delivery year | Over 1.055 million |
| Pensioners expected to benefit this winter | About 879,000 |
| Payment range this winter | £105.55 to £316.70 |
| All winter heating payments, winter 2025/26 | Over 1.57 million |
| Clients receiving at least one winter heating benefit | More than 1.46 million |
Source: Scottish Government and Social Security Scotland (.gov.scot), 2026.
Scotland no longer uses the Winter Fuel Payment. Its Pension Age Winter Heating Payment replaced it. Social Security Scotland made over 1.055 million payments in the first year of delivery and expects about 879,000 pensioners to benefit this winter. Amounts run from £105.55 to £316.70 depending on age and household. The payment in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is not uprated for inflation each year, so the Scottish amounts sit slightly above the English and Welsh bands.
Scottish figures sit outside the DWP count of 10.9 million. The wider winter heating package, including the Child Winter Heating Payment and the low-income Winter Heating Payment, issued over 1.57 million payments in winter 2025/26 to more than 1.46 million clients. Northern Ireland runs its own Winter Fuel Payment through the Department for Communities. The House of Commons Library says about 10.2 million people across the UK benefit once recoveries are counted.
Frequently Asked Questions About Winter Fuel Payment in UK 2026
How many people got the Winter Fuel Payment in 2025 to 2026?
DWP recorded 10.9 million recipients in England and Wales for winter 2025 to 2026. Including eligible partners, 11 million people benefited.
How much is the Winter Fuel Payment in 2026?
Payments ranged from £100 to £300. 37% of recipients got £100, 9% got £150, 38% got £200 and 17% got £300.
Who is eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment in 2026?
Most pensioners born on or before 21 September 1959 qualify, based on their situation in the qualifying week of 15 to 21 September 2025.
Do pensioners with high incomes get the Winter Fuel Payment?
They receive it, then HMRC recovers it if income is over £35,000. About 2.2 million UK pensioners face that charge.
How many pensioners got the Winter Fuel Payment in 2024 to 2025?
Only 1.3 million in England and Wales, after the payment was limited to people on certain means-tested benefits.
How much did the Winter Fuel Payment cost in 2025 to 2026?
DWP does not publish a total in its statistics release. Calculated from payment shares, the cost is about £1.93 billion for England and Wales.
Which region got the highest Winter Fuel Payments?
London had the highest shares on the larger payments, with 46% getting £200 and 19% getting £300.
Which local authority had the most Winter Fuel Payment recipients?
North Yorkshire led with 150 thousand, ahead of Birmingham and Cornwall at 140 thousand each.
How many pensioners opted out of the Winter Fuel Payment?
DWP recorded 53,000 opt-outs for winter 2025 to 2026.
How does HMRC take back the Winter Fuel Payment?
HMRC applies a tax charge equal to the payment. It collects the 2025 charge through tax codes for 2026/27 or through self-assessment.
Do Scottish pensioners get the Winter Fuel Payment?
No. Scotland pays the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, between £105.55 and £316.70 this winter, to about 879,000 pensioners.
When will the next Winter Fuel Payment statistics be published?
Reports state that statistics for winter 2026 to 2027 are due on 21 September 2027.
Where can I find official Winter Fuel Payment statistics?
Use the DWP statistics release on GOV.UK and the Stat-Xplore tool for local authority and constituency data.
Disclaimer: The data research report we present here is based on information found from various sources. We are not liable for any financial loss, errors, or damages of any kind that may result from the use of the information herein. We acknowledge that though we try to report accurately, we cannot verify the absolute facts of everything that has been represented.
