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Winter Fuel Payment opt-out scheme set to reopen on 21 December 2026
The Department for Work and Pensions says state pensioners will be able to opt out of Winter Fuel Payments for the 2027-28 heating season when the scheme reopen
The Department for Work and Pensions says state pensioners will be able to opt out of the Winter Fuel Payment for the 2027-28 heating season from 21 December 2026.
The reopening will not allow people to opt out of payments for the 2026-27 winter, for which the opt-out period has closed, according to the DWP. The department says the choice for the following heating season will be available through the scheme from the December date.
People whose total income is more than £35,000 can still receive a Winter Fuel Payment if they do not opt out. However, the payment may then be reclaimed by HM Revenue and Customs, the DWP has said.
HMRC will usually recover the amount through a person’s tax code, increasing the tax taken from their wages, salary or pension. Anyone who completes a Self Assessment tax return will instead settle the amount through their tax bill. HMRC will notify people by email or post if it changes their tax code to recover the payment. If it cannot collect the full amount during the tax year, it will send a tax calculation letter.
The DWP says people can opt out online by completing a form on GOV.UK. The process is also available through the Manage your State Pension service for people using GOV.UK One Login. Alternatively, pensioners can contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre by phone or post.
For anyone seeking to opt back in, the department says they can contact the centre. To receive a payment for winter 2026-27, it must be contacted before 31 March 2027.
The centre’s telephone number is 0800 731 0160. Relay UK users who are unable to hear or speak on the phone can call 18001 followed by 0800 731 0160. The helpline is open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.
Written correspondence can be sent to Mail Handling Site A, Wolverhampton, WV98 1LR. The DWP says callers or correspondents will need to provide personal details, including their name, address, date of birth and National Insurance number.
Page details
- Section
- Welfare
- Location
- UK
- Published
- 8 November 2026, 02:29
- Updated
- 8 November 2026, 02:36
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