Pensioners who received the 2025 winter fuel payment will have to pay the full amount back to the government where their total income for the year to 5 April 2026 exceeds £35,000. This limit is based on the individual’s income, not household income. HMRC estimates that approximately 2 million people will need to repay their 2025 winter fuel payment. 

The payments will begin to be recovered through the tax system from April 2026. In most cases, this will be done automatically by HMRC. However, in a press release, HMRC has warned that “scammers” may “use the recovery process as a hook to use texts, emails and phone calls” to target pensioners. The press release reveals that HMRC has already received more than 25,000 winter fuel payment scam referrals.  

How the payment is recovered 

For pensioners who complete a self assessment (SA) tax return, the payment should be included in their tax return for 2025/26. For online filers, HMRC will pre-populate the return for the payment. Taxpayers who file on paper will need to enter the payment themselves.  

For pensioners not in SA, the payment will be recovered through their pay as you earn (PAYE) tax code from April 2026 onwards.  

Further details are provided in an earlier article.  

HMRC has published an online tool that pensioners can use to check if their winter fuel payment will be recovered.  

Spotting and reporting scams 

The press release directs pensioners to guidance on GOV.UK explaining how to: 

• say safe online; and
• report suspicious contact to HMRC. 

HMRC says that, where an individual has had money stolen from them, they should  contact their bank immediately and notify Report Fraud. In Scotland, the police can be contacted on 101.