Get £300 winter fuel payment with 'pension trick' even if you earn over £35k

Brits have been told how to qualify for the winter fuel allowance, even if they earn over £35,000. If you were born before September 22, 1959, you could get between £100 and £300 to help you pay your heating bills for winter 2025 to 2026.

Those receiving a state pension and making under £35,000 a year (from income, private pensions, and state benefits) should qualify and receive a letter in October or November, with the allowance arriving from mid-November. Those making over £35,000 will need to have opted out of the payment by the September 15 deadline. If you didn't, HMRC will take the allowance back from April 2026. However, a legal trick can help you qualify even if you make over the threshold. Those making slightly over £35,000 (for example, £35,500) can keep the payment if they bring their taxable income below the threshold. Paying more into your workplace or private pension, or opting into workplace schemes like cycle-to-work or childcare, can lower your taxable income.

If you don't do this and didn't opt out, HMRC will take the allowance back in monthly instalments from April 2026. For example, if you got £100, you'll pay £9 a month to HMRC for a year until it's repaid.

Those not eligible for the allowance include those living outside of England and Wales, were in hospital getting free treatment for the whole of the week of September 15-21 2025 and the year before that, need permission to enter the UK and your granted leave says that you cannot claim public funds, or were in prison for the whole of the week of September 15-21 2025.

Those in Northern Ireland may be eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment from the Northern Ireland Executive, subject to the same eligibility rules as England and Wales. Those in Scotland might be eligible for the Pension Age Winter Heating payment.

Also on offer are the Cold Weather Payment - if you get certain benefits and the temperature drops to 0C or below for seven days in a row, the Warm Home Discount - a £150 discount on your bills if you get Pension Credit or live in a low-income household, or help from the Household Support Fund - if you're eligible under your local council's rules.

The Government warns on its website that you may get calls, emails or messages that are pretending to be from a Government service.

If you get a message asking for your personal details (for example, bank details or passwords), this could be a scam. Report anything you think is suspicious.