Winter Fuel Payment (Northern Ireland)
A once-a-year, tax-free payment for people of State Pension age, paid automatically in Northern Ireland by the Department for Communities. For winter 2026/27 you qualify if you were born on or before 27 June 1960. If your income is over £35,000, HMRC takes it back through the tax system.
- Worth
- £100 to £300 — most people living alone get £200, or £300 if aged 80 or over
- Run by
- Department for Communities
- Status
- Open
Who qualifies
- You were born on or before 27 June 1960 — the cut-off for the 2026/27 qualifying week of 21 to 27 September 2026
- You live in Northern Ireland, where the payment is made by the Department for Communities
- Your individual income is £35,000 or less to keep it — above that it is still paid, but HMRC recovers it
What it covers
A cash payment into the account your State Pension or benefit is paid into. It is tax free and does not affect your other benefits or income.
How it works
How much you get depends on your age and who you live with during the qualifying week — not on how much heating you use. For 2026/27, anyone born before 28 September 1946 counts as 80 or over.
Since winter 2025/26 the payment has gone back to all pensioners, with a £35,000 income test applied afterwards through tax. In 2024/25 only people on Pension Credit and certain other benefits received it, which is why some people who missed out that year are being paid again.
If your income is over £35,000, HMRC recovers the payment either by changing your tax code or by adding it to your Self Assessment tax return. You don't need to do anything to start this.
The opt-out window for 2026/27 has closed. If you'd rather not receive it in future, you can opt out of the 2027/28 payment from 21 December 2026.
Making sure you get it
- Check your date of birth: on or before 27 June 1960 for winter 2026/27.
- Look out for your letter. It arrives in October or November and confirms how much you'll get and when.
- Check the account your State Pension is paid into around the payment date given in the letter.
- If you think you qualify but haven't had a letter by the end of November, contact the Department for Communities through the nidirect Winter Fuel Payment page.
The £35,000 test applies to each person individually, not to the household.
Examples
Living alone, aged 68
£200.
Living alone, aged 82
£300.
Couple, both aged 70, not on Pension Credit
£100 each — £200 for the household.
Couple on a joint Pension Credit claim, one aged 81
One payment of £300 for the couple.
Living in a care home, aged 75
£100 (£150 if born before 28 September 1946).
Living alone, income £40,000
Receives £200, which HMRC then recovers through tax.
Watch out for
- Assuming you're excluded because you missed out in 2024/25 — the rules changed again in 2025.
- Scam messages: the payment is automatic, so any text or email asking you to "apply" or confirm bank details for it should be treated as a scam.
Questions people ask
Do I need to claim it?
Usually not. It is paid automatically to people receiving the State Pension or another qualifying benefit.
When is it paid?
Letters are sent in October or November confirming how much you'll get and when it will be paid.
What if my income is over £35,000?
You'll still be paid, but HMRC will take it back by changing your tax code or through Self Assessment. The opt-out for 2026/27 has closed; you can opt out of 2027/28 from 21 December 2026.
Does it affect my other benefits?
No. Winter Fuel Payment is tax free and does not affect your other benefits or income.
Source
Official page: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/winter-fuel-payment
Last checked automatically on 23 October 2026 — official page reachable ✓.
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