These state pensioner groups won’t be paid the Winter Fuel Payment at all, despite earning less than the £35k threshold.
Winter fuel payments will not be given to these groups (Image: Getty)
Millions of state pensioners will be receiving a letter from the DWP this October or November confirming they’re in line for up to £300 in Winter Fuel Payments under new Prime Minister Andy Burnham in 2026 – but pensioners in five groups will miss out entirely.
Despite the fact that new rules have been put in place this winter to ensure the payments are made to everyone – even if they earn over £35,000 – there are still some state pensioners who won’t qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment even though they earn less than the new threshold, and the DWP has now updated its guidance for 2026, which is the first year that the new Prime Minister will oversee the scheme.
While the Government announced a big change to the payments for 2025 following 2024’s very unpopular Pension Credit system, it’s still not true that absolutely every state pensioner will get a Winter Fuel Payment.
That’s because in some circumstances, you won’t be deemed eligible.
According to Age UK, those who lived in a care home before June 29, 2026 and also claimed Pension Credit, Universal Credit or Income-related Employment and Support Allowance will not be eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment.
Those who lived in a care home and don’t get one of those benefits will receive a lower £100 payment instead (or £150 if you’re over 80), which is half the normal amount.
The Government has also confirmed several other scenarios in which you won’t get a payment, including if you live outside England or Wales, or were in hospital, or were in prison.
The DWP says via gov.uk: “You will not be eligible if you:
- usually live outside England and Wales
- 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
- You will not be eligible if both of the following apply: you get Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) or income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and you lived in a care home for the whole time from 23 June 2025 or earlier.”