HMRC points pressing warning to pensioners over winter gasoline cost rip-off

HM Revenue & Customs has urged pensioners to be aware of winter fuel payment scams, as it moves to claw back the heating subsidy from two million people. 

Under new rules introduced under Labour, recipients of the winter fuel payment who have an income of more than £35,000 will have to pay it back. 

This is an automatic process for most, as the money is deducted by the Government through higher taxes. Pensioners don’t need to make any payments directly. 

However, the Government is warning that scammers may contact pensioners via texts, emails and phone calls pretending to be from HMRC, and trick them into paying money. 

If you receive a text or an email asking you to pay back your winter fuel payment, it is most likely a scam. HMRC never requests bank details. 

Some nine million pensioners received the winter fuel allowance, worth up to £300, last year. 

But an estimated two million individuals in England and Wales, who are over state pension age and have a taxable income above £35,000, will not be allowed to keep it if they didn’t already opt out. 

Most people will not have to do anything to repay the heating allowance and there is no need to contact HMRC. 

This is because the payment will be recovered through your PAYE tax code and the money will be automatically deducted from your income. 

For those who use self assessment tax returns online, the payment should already be in the form. If it isn’t, you can add it manually. 

If you file a paper self assessment, you will need to add it to your tax return when it is due by 31 October 2026. 

This applies across the UK, even in Scotland, where the payment is known as the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment. 

‘Criminals are great pretenders and often use fake letters, emails, calls and texts to impersonate HMRC and trick people into giving them money,’ said Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s chief customer officer. 

‘I’d encourage anyone who’s unsure to use our online tool at Gov.uk to check whether and how their payment will be recovered – there’s no need to call us.’ 

Chancellor Rachel Reeves humiliatingly restored winter fuel payments last year for most pensioners after introducing a tough means test on the allowance in 2024. 

The decision, one of the first announcements made by Ms Reeves after entering No11, was blamed for triggering a headlong slump in Labour’s popularity. 

Previous winter fuel payment scams have also targeted pensioners and told them to provide personal information, so that their payment can be processed.  

The payment is issued automatically and this is not required. HMRC will never contact people by text or email to ask them to repay their winter fuel payment, or to request bank details.