Supporting an older relative through winter: cost of living help

For winter 2026 to 2027, most people born on or before 27 June 1960 receive a Winter Fuel Payment of between £100 and £300, paid automatically, usually in November or December. Beyond that, check for Pension Credit, the Warm Home Discount and Cold Weather Payments, keep the main rooms at 18C or above, and put a regular check-in routine in place.

At a glance

• Winter Fuel Payment 2026/27 is £200 for most eligible people living alone, or £300 if born before 28 September 1946.
• Pension Credit is currently £238 a week for a single person and £363.25 for a couple, and can open the door to other help.
• Warm Home Discount is a one-off £150 off an electricity bill; Cold Weather Payment is £25 for each very cold week from 1 November 2026 to 31 March 2027.
• The NHS advises heating rooms in regular use to at least 18C, especially with a health condition.
• Free flu vaccination covers people aged 65 or over, care home residents and many unpaid carers.

What help with heating costs is available in 2026/27?

Our separate guide to the Winter Fuel Payment and Warm Home Discount goes into more detail on the rules. This page pulls the winter picture together.

Who gets the Winter Fuel Payment this winter?

You must have been born on or before 27 June 1960 and not live in Scotland. Circumstances in the qualifying week, 21 to 27 September 2026, set the amount. Most eligible people get it without applying, with a letter in October or November stating the sum.

• Living alone, born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960: £200.
• Living alone, born before 28 September 1946: £300.
• Living in a care home and eligible: £100, or £150 if born before 28 September 1946.
• Living with another eligible person and receiving none of Pension Credit, Universal Credit or income-related ESA: lower amounts, such as £100 each for two people in the younger band.

HMRC takes the payment back through the tax system if your total income is over £35,000. Age UK says that anyone who has not had a letter or payment by 27 January 2027 should call the helpline on 0800 731 0160. Our guide to benefits in a care home explains how other income is treated once someone moves into a home.

Is your relative missing out on Pension Credit?

Pension Credit is for people over State Pension age on a low income, and you can get it even if you have other income, savings or own your home. GOV.UK currently shows the Guarantee Credit at £238 a week for a single person and £363.25 a week for a couple, as a top-up to weekly income. Extra help may be available for carers and severely disabled people.

Claiming matters beyond the money. Pension Credit can unlock Council Tax Reduction, Housing Benefit for renters, Cold Weather Payments, the Warm Home Discount, a free TV licence for people aged 75 or over, and some NHS costs. Our guide to Attendance Allowance and Pension Credit explains how the two fit together, and you can use the Attendance Allowance checker to see whether a relative may qualify.

How do the Warm Home Discount and Cold Weather Payment work?

The Warm Home Discount is a one-off £150 discount on an electricity bill, applied by the supplier rather than paid to you. For England and Wales, GOV.UK says the core group is people who, on 23 August 2026, had a supplier in the scheme, received a means-tested benefit such as Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Housing Benefit or income-related ESA, and had their own or their partner’s name on the electricity bill.

Letters are due between late October 2026 and early January 2027. If more information is needed, call the helpline by 26 February 2027, and suppliers apply the discount by 31 March 2027. If your letter says you do not need to do anything, you do not. Be wary of unexpected calls or texts offering to help you claim, and see scams targeting older people.

Cold Weather Payment is £25 for each 7-day period when the average temperature in your area is recorded or forecast to be 0C or below, between 1 November 2026 and 31 March 2027. It is paid automatically to those who qualify, and neither payment affects other benefits.

How warm should the home be?

The NHS advises heating rooms you use regularly, such as the living room and bedroom, to at least 18C, noting that this matters particularly with a health condition. Keep bedroom windows closed at night, stock up on enough food for a few days, and wear a scarf over the mouth outdoors in the cold.

UKHSA and the Met Office also issue Cold-Health Alerts in yellow, amber and red, with a core period of 1 November to 31 March. They are freely available, and anyone can register for email notifications. Guidance for home care providers includes assessing room temperature, medication stock and food supplies during visits, which are good checks for relatives too.

Can grants help with insulation and heating?

Schemes change, so check the current position on GOV.UK. It lists home energy recommendations online or by phone on 0800 098 7950 (Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm, Saturday 9am to 12pm), the Energy Company Obligation arranged through energy suppliers, and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. Your council may also run energy efficiency schemes.

If a home needs adaptations rather than insulation, see Disabled Facilities Grants. Age UK’s free Advice Line, on 0800 678 1602 from 8am to 7pm every day, can talk through benefits and winter support.

Which jabs should an older relative have?

The free NHS flu vaccine is for people aged 65 or over (including those turning 65 by 31 March 2027), care home residents, and the main carer of an older or disabled person or anyone receiving Carer’s Allowance. The last date to receive it is 31 March 2027, and the NHS advises vaccination as early as possible.

The NHS COVID-19 vaccine this winter is offered to people aged 75 or over (including those turning 75 by 31 January 2027), adults living in a care home for older adults, and people with a weakened immune system. The last date is 31 January 2027, and you can have it at the same time as flu.

What check-in routine works over winter?

A simple routine is more effective than a heroic one. Agree who checks on your relative, on which days, and what happens if they do not answer. A weekly list can cover:

• Is the heating working and the home warm enough?
• Is there food for a few days, and are medicines in stock?
• Are paths and steps clear of ice, and are there good grip shoes by the door?
• Are there any new falls, confusion or low mood?
• Is any bill or letter causing worry?

If you live far away, our guide to long-distance caregiving covers shared calendars, local helpers and alarms, and falls prevention at home covers the hazards that winter makes worse. If you spot several problems at once, signs an elderly parent needs care can help you decide what to do next.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to apply for the Winter Fuel Payment?

Usually not. Most eligible people get it automatically, with a letter in October or November stating the amount, and payment mostly in November or December 2026. If nothing has arrived by 27 January 2027, Age UK says to call 0800 731 0160.

How much is the Winter Fuel Payment in 2026/27?

It is between £100 and £300. Most eligible people living alone get £200, or £300 if born before 28 September 1946. Care home residents who are eligible get £100, or £150 if born before 28 September 1946.

What temperature should an older person keep their home?

The NHS advises at least 18C in the rooms you use regularly, such as the living room and bedroom, and says this matters particularly for people with a health condition. Close bedroom windows at night and use a thermometer to check.

Can someone get Pension Credit and still own their home?

Yes. GOV.UK says you can get Pension Credit even if you have other income or savings, or own your home. It is for people over State Pension age on a low income, so it is worth asking Pension Credit rather than assuming no.

Is the Warm Home Discount paid in cash?

No. It is a one-off £150 discount applied by your electricity supplier to your bill, and in some cases your gas bill if the supplier provides both. Pre-pay customers can still qualify, typically through a top-up voucher.

Where to get help next

If winter shows that your relative needs more day-to-day help, read how to arrange home care and use the funding checker to see what support may be available. You can also search for care near you.

Sources

• GOV.UK: Winter Fuel Payment, how much you’ll get
• GOV.UK: Pension Credit, what you’ll get
• GOV.UK: Warm Home Discount, if you live in England or Wales
• GOV.UK: Cold Weather Payment
• NHS: Keep warm, keep well
• NHS: Flu vaccine

Reviewed by The Care Panel team on 9 November 2026. This guide is general information about care in England, not legal, medical or financial advice. Rules and rates change; check with your council or an adviser before making decisions.