HMRC sends urgent £300 Winter Fuel Payment alert to 2.2 UK million pensioners

HMRC sends urgent £300 Winter Fuel Payment alert to 2.2 UK million pensioners Millions of pensioners are eligible for help with paying their energy bills over the colder months Tax officials have issued an urgent alert to more than two million pensioners as Winter Fuel Payments go live in the UK. Claims for the benefit of up to £300 can be made from Monday, September 21, as the qualifying week which determines who can get the help begins. However, while most pensioners will automatically receive the money, some people will have to pay it back. Under strict rules anyone with an income of more than £35,000 is not eligible for the payment and will have to return it, usually through some form of taxation. House of Commons figures show that in the year 2025/26 an estimated 2.2 million pensioners will be impacted by the limit and will have their Winter Fuel Payment recovered because their individual taxable income exceeds £35,000. How they will have to repay the money will depend on how they usually pay tax and whether it is a private pension or self assessment. In a post on X the HMRC told pensioners: "Did you receive a Winter Fuel Payment, or Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, last winter? If your income in 2025/26 was over £35,000, you'll need to repay it. "If you only pay tax through Pay As You Earn (PAYE), for example on a private pension, the payment is already being collected through your tax code and you don’t need to do anything. If you're in Self Assessment, you need to include it in your tax return for 2025/26." It added for more information on whether you need to pay it back, and how it will be collected, visit the Winter Fuel Payment page on the government website." Under the Winter Fuel Payment the majority of pensioners are eligible to receive up to £300 towards their energy costs over the colder months. Who qualifies depends on an individual's circumstances in the week starting Monday. Who will get the Winter Fuel Payment You can get a Winter Fuel Payment if you were born on or before 27 June 1960 and usually live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. Who does not qualify You will not be eligible if you: - usually live outside England, Wales or Northern Ireland - were in hospital getting free treatment for the whole of the week of 21 to 27 September 2026 and the year before that - need permission to enter the UK and your granted leave says that you cannot claim public funds - were in prison for the whole of the week of 21 to 27 September 2026 If you live in a care home You can get Winter Fuel Payment if you live in a care home. You will not be eligible if both of the following apply: - you get Universal Credit, Pension Credit or income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) - you lived in a care home for the whole time from 29 June 2026 or earlier How much will you get? Those eligible will get a letter in October or November explaining how much Winter Fuel Payment they will be paid, if they’re eligible. The DWP says: "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 September 21-27, 2026. This is called the ‘qualifying week’. Any money you get will not affect your other benefits. 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 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960 - £300 if you were born before 28 September 1946 If you live with someone else who’s eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment Your payment may be different if you get one of the following benefits: - Pension Credit - Universal Credit - income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) If you do not get any of the benefits you will get a payment of: - £100 if you and the person you live with were both born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960 - £100 if you were born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960 but the person you live with was born before 28 September 1946 - £200 if you were born before 28 September 1946 but the person you live with was born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960 - £150 if you and the person you live with were both born before 28 September 1946 If you and your partner jointly claim any of the benefits one of you will get a payment of either: - £200 if both of you were born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960 - £300 if one or both of you were born before 28 September 1946 If you live in a care home and you are eligible you’ll get either: - £100 if you were born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960 - £150 if you were born before 28 September 1946 When will the money be paid? 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. How to repay the money 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