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Winter Fuel Payment Recovery Scams
Created: 16/04/2026
News/Events Category: General News
This item will show under the following categories: Health and Social Care
HMRC has warned pensioners to be on high alert for scams as the recovery of Winter Fuel Payments (known as the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment in Scotland) begins this month.
Almost two million people are expected to repay their winter 2025 payment due to their annual income being more than £35,000.
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.
For most people, this will be an automatic process - the payment will be recovered through a change to their PAYE tax code from this month (April 2026) with no need to contact HMRC. For those in Self Assessment who file online, the payment should be pre-populated in their 2025 to 2026 tax return, due by 31 January 2027. Customers should check and add it manually if it is not shown. Paper filers will need to add it on their tax return, due by 31 October 2026.
HMRC will never contact people by text or email to ask them to repay their Winter Fuel Payment, or to request bank details.
People can use HMRC’s online checking tool at GOV.UK to see whether their payment will be reclaimed and how.
Avoid HMRC ScamsHMRC will never ask for personal or financial information over text message or email, or leave voicemails threatening legal action or arrest – only fraudsters and criminals will do that.
They will not e-mail, text or phone to tell you that you are due a refund or ask you to request a refund. Anyone who is due a refund from HMRC can claim it via their online HMRC account or the free and secure HMRC app.
You should not click on links, provide any details or make any payments to a cold caller.
If you are unsure if a message from HMRC is genuine, check their website (www.gov.uk/government/collections/check-a-list-of-genuine-hmrc-contacts) before clicking on any links or providing any details.
Links in any genuine letters or emails from them will lead to the GOV.UK website. If a link includes the word 'gov' but ends in .co.uk it is likely to be fake.
Forward details of suspicious e-mails to [email protected], forward suspicious text messages to 60599 or report suspicious phone calls online: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs/contact/reporting-fraudulent-emails
Find out More- Original article: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pensioners-urged-to-be-alert-to-winter-fuel-payment-scams
- Check if HMRC will take back your winter fuel payment: https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-hmrc-will-take-back-your-winter-payment/start/tax-year?c=1
- Identify HMRC scams: www.gov.uk/guidance/identify-hmrc-related-scam-phone-calls-emails-and-text-messages
- ScamShare Spotlight PDF on HMRC scams: www.tsscot.co.uk/scamshare
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