Winter Fuel Payment scam texts: you do not need to apply by link

What the scam texts say

DWP describes the texts as fraudsters posing as government officials processing Winter Fuel Payment applications. In 2025 they peaked in June, dropped off, then rose again ahead of the November payments: DWP reported a 153% rise in scam referrals in the final week of September 2025 compared with the week before.

HMRC says it received more than 25,000 Winter Fuel Payment scam referrals in the 12 months to April 2026. It also warned that scammers may use the recovery of the payment from people with incomes over £35,000 as a new hook for texts, emails and phone calls.

The real rules for winter 2026 to 2027

From GOV.UK's Winter Fuel Payment guide:

• If you were born on or before 27 June 1960, you could get between £100 and £300 for winter 2026 to 2027.
• Most people get it automatically. If you are eligible you will get a letter in October or November saying how much you will get, and most people are paid in November or December 2026.
• The amount depends on your circumstances in the qualifying week, 21 to 27 September 2026.
• GOV.UK lists only two ways for the few people who need to claim: by post from 21 September 2026, and by phone from 19 October 2026.
• If your income is over £35,000, HMRC takes the payment back, usually through your tax code. GOV.UK says HMRC will contact you by email or post if it changes your tax code.
• In Scotland there is no Winter Fuel Payment; you might be eligible for the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment instead.

How much: if you live alone, or no one you live with is eligible, you get £200 if you were born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960, or £300 if you were born before 28 September 1946. If you live with someone else who is eligible, GOV.UK lists different amounts.

To check your own payment, use GOV.UK's number, not one from a text: if you have had no letter, or no money by 27 January 2027, GOV.UK says to contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre on 0800 731 0160.

What the government says it never does

• DWP: Winter Fuel Payments are made automatically, and the government will never ask for bank details by text.
• HMRC: it will never contact people by text or email to ask them to repay their Winter Fuel Payment, or to request bank details.

The Work and Pensions Secretary put it plainly in October 2025: "If you get a text message about Winter Fuel Payments, it's a scam."

To check whether HMRC will take your payment back, and how, use the tool linked from GOV.UK's Paying back the Winter Fuel Payment page. HMRC says there is no need to call it.

What to do with the text

1. Do not click the link and do not reply.
2. Forward it to 7726, free, then delete it. This is exactly what DWP asks.
3. If it claims to be from HMRC, you can also forward it to 60599 (network charges apply); see HMRC scam texts.
4. If you gave bank details or paid anything, call your bank straight away on the number on your card or on 159, then report it to Report Fraud (0300 123 2040; in Scotland, Police Scotland on 101).

DWP's October 2025 warning also pointed older people worried about one of these texts to the free Independent Age helpline on 0800 319 6789.

Paste the message into the scam text checker: it flags Winter Fuel Payment "applications" and links that use "gov" on a domain that is not gov.uk. Fake DVLA refund texts work the same way.

Sources

• GOV.UK, Winter Fuel Payment: GOV.UK, Winter Fuel Payment: "If you were born on or before 27 June 1960 you could get between £100 and £300 to help you pay your heating bills for winter 2026 to 2027. ... Most people get the Winter Fuel Payment automatically if they're eligible. If you're eligible, you'll receive a letter in October or November saying how much you'll get. Most eligible people will be paid in November or December 2026. ... If you live alone or no one you live with is eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment You'll get either: £200 if you were born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960; £300 if you were born before 28 September 1946 ... If you live with someone else who's eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment ... [different amounts are listed] ... If you do not get a letter or the money has not been paid into your account by 27 January 2027, contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre ... Telephone: 0800 731 0160 ... If your total income is over £35,000, HMRC will take your Winter Fuel Payment back. ... If you live in Scotland You cannot get a Winter Fuel Payment. You might be eligible for Pension Age Winter Heating payment. ... 21 to 27 September 2026 (the 'qualifying week') ... You can claim the Winter Fuel Payment by: post - from 21 September 2026; phone - from 19 October 2026 ... If HMRC changes your tax code to pay back your Winter Fuel Payment, they'll contact you by email or post." — https://www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment, read on 2026-09-30
• DWP, Winter Fuel Payment scams (Oct 2025): DWP (GOV.UK), 'Pensioners warned to stay alert as winter fuel payment scams surge by over 150%' (15 October 2025): "New data reveals a 153% rise in scam referrals in the final week of September, compared to the previous week. ... fraudsters exploit pensioners by posing as government officials processing Winter Fuel Payment applications – had begun to drop off after a peak in June but are now increasing again ahead of payments being made next month. ... Winter Fuel Payments are made automatically, and the government will never ask for bank details by text. Anyone who receives a text message inviting them to apply for a payment should not engage with it and instead forward it to 7726. ... Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said: If you get a text message about Winter Fuel Payments, it's a scam. ... you can call the Independent Age free helpline on 0800 319 6789." — https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pensioners-warned-to-stay-alert-as-winter-fuel-payment-scams-surge-by-over-150, read on 2026-09-30
• HMRC, Winter Fuel Payment scams (Apr 2026): HMRC (GOV.UK), 'Pensioners urged to be alert to Winter Fuel Payment scams' (14 April 2026): "HMRC saw more than 25,000 Winter Fuel Payment scam referrals over the last 12 months and is warning that scammers may now use the recovery process as a hook to use texts, emails and phone calls to target this group. ... use our online tool at GOV.UK to check whether and how their payment will be recovered – there's no need to call us. HMRC will never contact people by text or email to ask them to repay their Winter Fuel Payment, or to request bank details." Guidance: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/paying-back-the-winter-fuel-payment — https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pensioners-urged-to-be-alert-to-winter-fuel-payment-scams, read on 2026-09-30
• HMRC 60599: HMRC (GOV.UK), Examples of phishing emails, suspicious phone calls and texts, updated 15 Dec 2025: "you should send any suspicious text messages to 60599 (network charges apply) or email phishing@hmrc.gov.uk then delete them." — https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phishing-and-bogus-emails-hm-revenue-and-customs-examples/phishing-emails-and-bogus-contact-hm-revenue-and-customs-examples, read on 2026-09-29
• NCSC, forwarding to 7726: NCSC, Report a scam text: "Most phone providers are part of a scheme that allows customers to report suspicious text messages for free by forwarding it to 7726. If you forward a text to 7726, your provider can investigate the origin of the text and arrange to block or ban the sender, if it's found to be malicious." — https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/phishing-scams/report-scam-text-message, read on 2026-09-29
• Report Fraud: Action Fraud / City of London Police press release, 4 Dec 2025: "From Thursday 4 December 2025, anyone needing to report cyber crime or fraud will be directed to our new Report Fraud service. Report Fraud has replaced Action Fraud, for use in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. People affected by cyber crime or fraud in Scotland should continue to call Police Scotland using the 101 telephone number. ... reportfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040." — https://www.wired-gov.net/wg/news.nsf/articles/Report+Fraud+service+goes+live+04122025143000; https://www.reportfraud.police.uk/, read on 2026-09-29