Three-day DWP warning to state pensioners over £300 Winter Fuel Payment | Personal Finance | Finance

State pensioners have just three days left to secure this year’s Winter Fuel Payment by claiming the DWP’s Pension Credit benefit.

Pension Credit, which is paid by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), is worth an average of £4,200 a year and aims to top up low-income pensioners’ state pension to give them a more reasonable standard of living. The benefit can be claimed even if a person owns their own home or has a certain amount of savings.

The Government revealed that while a recent awareness campaign has encouraged 150,000 pensioners to sign up for the benefit since July, as many as 700,000 eligible retirees could still be missing out.

If they make a claim by December 21, they’ll have this year’s Winter Fuel Payment reinstated, which is worth up to £300 to put towards heating bills.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves made the Winter Fuel Payment means-tested this year, meaning only those who receive certain benefits – such as Pension Credit – will qualify for the support.

Who is eligible to claim Pension Credit?

To claim Pension Credit, a person must live in England, Scotland or Wales and have reached the state pension age (currently 66 and over). They or their partner must also be receiving housing benefits.

If this applies, the person must then work out their total weekly income. This should include the state pension, other pensions, earnings from employment and self-employment, and most social security benefits, such as Carer’s Allowance.

Not all benefits are counted as income. For example, the following are not counted and shouldn’t be included in the calculation:

• Adult Disability Payment
• Attendance Allowance
• Christmas Bonus
• Child Benefit
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Social fund payments, such as the Winter Fuel Allowance
• Housing Benefit
• Council Tax Reduction.

Individuals are most likely to be eligible if their total weekly income is roughly under £220. Joint households may find themselves more likely to be eligible if their total weekly income is roughly under £332.

However, if their income is higher, they might still be eligible, so it’s worth checking the Government Pension Credit calculator just in case.

Those who have £10,000 or less in savings and investments will see no impact on their Pension Credit.

Those who have more than £10,000, every £500 over £10,000 counts as £1 income a week. For example, if you have £11,000 in savings, this counts as £2 income a week.

To apply for the benefit, people can reach the helpline by telephone at 0800 99 1234 or by textphone on 0800 169 0133. They can also apply online here.

Who is eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment?

People can get a Winter Fuel Payment for Winter 2024 to 2025 if they were born before September 23, 1958.

They must also live in England or Wales and get one of the following:

• Pension Credit
• Universal Credit
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Income Support.

A payment of £200 is distributed to those born between September 23, 1944, and September 22, 1958. Those born before September 23, 1944, will receive a payment of £300.

State pensioners living in Scotland might be eligible for a similar payment from the Scottish Government.