If you wanted to opt out of the Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2026 to 2027, that window has closed: you can no longer opt out for this winter in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. Opting out for winter 2027 to 2028 opens on 21 December 2026. Scotland's equivalent payment has its own, later window, still open.
Key points
✓You can no longer opt out of the Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2026 to 2027
✓Opting out for winter 2027 to 2028 opens on 21 December 2026
✓Opting out doesn't save you money if your income is over £35,000: HMRC gets the amount back either way
✓Previously opted out and want back in for this winter? Contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre before 31 March 2027
✓Scotland's Pension Age Winter Heating Payment has its own opt-out form, open until midday on 19 October 2026
Winter 2026 to 2027: the window has closed
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, you can no longer opt out of the Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2026 to 2027. If your total income for the year is over £35,000, you'll still receive the payment, but HM Revenue and Customs will take it back through a Winter Fuel Payment charge, either via your tax code or your Self Assessment return.
You'll be able to opt out of the Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2027 to 2028 from 21 December 2026.
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Not if your income is over £35,000. Whether you opt out, or receive the payment and have it clawed back by HMRC, you end up with the same amount either way. What opting out avoids is the tax code change itself, which increases the tax taken from your wages, salary or pension for several months.
If HMRC is already collecting a previous year's Winter Fuel Payment through your tax code when a new one is added, both amounts are collected together, so you'll pay noticeably more tax each month until it's cleared. For example, if your Winter Fuel Payment is £200 in both years, you'll pay approximately £30 to £33 more tax each month while HMRC collects both.
If you've opted out before and want back in
You can opt back in by contacting the Winter Fuel Payment Centre. To get a payment for winter 2026 to 2027, you need to contact them before 31 March 2027.
✓Yes: Phone: 0800 731 0160
✓Yes: Relay UK if you cannot hear or speak on the phone: 18001 then 0800 731 0160
✓Yes: Post: Winter Fuel Payment Centre, Mail Handling Site A, Wolverhampton, WV98 1LR
✓Yes: Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
When you contact them, you'll need to give your name, address, date of birth and National Insurance number.
Scotland: Pension Age Winter Heating Payment opt-out
Scotland's equivalent, Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, works differently: you can still opt out for the current payment period. The online opt-out form is open until midday on 19 October 2026, or you can opt out by calling Social Security Scotland.
If Social Security Scotland has already decided your winter 2026 to 2027 payment by the time you opt out, you'll still get that payment: opting out then mainly stops your payments from winter 2027 to 2028 onwards, not necessarily this winter's.
If you opt out and change your mind, you can opt back in for the current winter period until 31 March. After that date, Social Security Scotland will consider a late request but there's no guarantee it'll be accepted for that winter; either way, you'll get the payment again in future years if you're eligible.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I still opt out of the Winter Fuel Payment for 2026/27?
No, not in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. That window has closed. You'll be able to opt out for winter 2027 to 2028 from 21 December 2026.
How do I opt out of the Winter Fuel Payment?
When the window is open, you opt out by contacting the Winter Fuel Payment Centre on 0800 731 0160 or by post at Mail Handling Site A, Wolverhampton, WV98 1LR. The next window, for winter 2027 to 2028, opens 21 December 2026.
Does opting out of the Winter Fuel Payment save me money?
Only if your income is under £35,000, in which case there's nothing to opt out of paying back anyway. If your income is over £35,000, you get the same amount either way; opting out just avoids the tax code change HMRC otherwise makes to collect it.
Can I opt back in to the Winter Fuel Payment after opting out?
Yes. Contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre; to get a payment for winter 2026 to 2027 you need to do this before 31 March 2027.
Is Scotland's Winter Fuel Payment opt-out deadline the same?
No. Scotland's Pension Age Winter Heating Payment has its own online opt-out form, open until midday on 19 October 2026, later and separate from the rest of the UK's closed window for 2026/27.
Know Your Rights UK. "Opt Out of the Winter Fuel Payment: 2026/27 Rules." Know Your Rights UK, https://www.knowyourrightsuk.com/benefits/winter-fuel-payment/opt-out