The Winter Fuel Payment scheme for Winter 2025-2026 closed in March 2026, according to Smart Energy GB, which publishes guidance on government help with energy bills in England. The same page states that details of future schemes will be available later in 20261.
The closure is reported alongside the end of two other winter payments. The Warm Home Discount scheme for Winter 2025-2026 closed on 31st March 2026, and the Cold Weather Payment scheme for the same winter also closed on 31st March 2026. For all three, the page says details of future schemes will be available later in 20261.
"The scheme for Winter 2025-2026 closed in March 2026."
The page carries two slightly different wordings for the Winter Fuel Payment closure: one line says the scheme "closed in March 2026", while another says it "closed on 31st March 2026". The Warm Home Discount and Cold Weather Payment are both given as 31st March 20261.
The guidance also sets out the current energy price cap, which it lists as covering April to June 2026. The cap is set by Ofgem, described as Great Britain's energy regulator, and limits the maximum amount suppliers can charge per unit of energy on standard and default tariffs. It is reviewed and updated every three months1.
| Fuel | Price per kWh | Daily standing charge |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity | 24.67p | 57.21p |
| Gas | 5.74p | 29.09p |
On those capped prices, the page states that the average two to three bedroom house paying by direct debit should spend £1,641 a year on gas and electricity, and notes that a household using more energy than average could spend more1.
Why it matters for households
The Winter Fuel Payment is one of the few payments that goes directly towards winter heating costs, so its closure marks the point in the year when that support stops and the next scheme has not yet been described. The page gives no eligibility rules, payment amounts or qualifying dates for any future scheme, so what a household might receive for the next winter has not been reported1.
The Warm Home Discount and Cold Weather Payment have closed on the same basis, which means the three main winter-specific payments are all between schemes at once. The Cold Weather Payment is triggered by sustained cold: the page says it may be paid when the average temperature in an area is zero degrees Celsius or below for seven days in a row, and lists Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit and Support for Mortgage Interest among the benefits that can qualify a household1.
For a home's energy independence, the practical position is that the capped unit rates above are what a household pays for each unit it uses, so the bill follows consumption. The page notes that a smart meter sends readings automatically, while households without one are advised to send a reading on or before the day the cap changes so usage is charged at the right rate1.
Other support listed for England is administered locally rather than nationally. Council Tax Support is arranged by local authorities, with eligibility depending on income, benefits and household circumstances, and the Crisis and Resilience Fund provides grant funding to local authorities for people who are vulnerable or cannot pay for essentials such as energy and water. Because both are managed locally, application rules and contact methods vary1.
What happens next
Details of future Winter Fuel Payment, Warm Home Discount and Cold Weather Payment schemes are stated as becoming available later in 2026. No dates, rates or eligibility criteria for those schemes appear in the guidance1.
Sources1 cited
- Government help with energy bills in England | Smart Energy GB, smartenergygb.org