HMRC Warns Pensioners of Winter Fuel Scams

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have issued an urgent warning to nearly two million pensioners across the UK to beware of scams as the automatic recovery of Winter Fuel Payments begins this month. The alerts target individuals whose annual income exceeds £35,000 and who received the one-off payments last winter, with fraudsters potentially exploiting the process through fake texts, emails, and calls.

The Winter Fuel Payment, which provides £200 to help eligible people over state pension age cover heating costs and rises to £300 for those over 80, was distributed to about nine million recipients in winter 2025. However, eligibility has been means-tested, requiring repayment from those above the income threshold. For most affected pensioners, HMRC will recover the funds automatically by adjusting their PAYE tax code starting in April 2026, adding roughly £17 per month in extra tax over the 2026-2027 tax year for a standard £200 payment. No contact with HMRC is needed for this process.

Self-assessment taxpayers face slightly different procedures. Those filing online will find the repayment prepopulated in their 2025-2026 tax return, due...