DWP to pay Winter Fuel Payments to 1.5 million peo | Personal Finance | Finance
Changes to the Winter Fuel Payments eligibility criteria mean that around 1.5 million individuals over State Pension age will receive a payment of £100, £200 or £300 this year to help with increased heating costs during the winter months. Letters will be sent out to eligible pensioners next month, with payments expected to arrive in November and December.
Pensioners who are eligible and receiving a means-tested benefit such as Pension Credit, Tax Credits or Universal Credit (only mixed couples), during any day of the qualifying week (September 16-22), will receive a Winter Fuel Payment. Eligible pensioners aged between 66 and 79 will automatically receive a payment of £200 into their bank account, while those over 80 will receive £300.
Those over 80 residing in care homes will receive £150, while those aged between 66 and 7 will receive £100. This policy change will result in around 10m pensioners not receiving payments this winter, including 850,000 Scots.
Winter Fuel Payment explained
In summary, people born before September 23, 1958 who are receiving a qualifying income-related benefit such as Pension Credit during the qualifying week of September 16-22, 2024 will automatically receive the payment – the money is tax-free and will not affect other benefits.
According to DWP guidance on GOV. UK, letters will be sent to eligible pensioner households in October or November informing them of the amount of Winter Fuel Payment they will receive, reports the Daily Record.
Most eligible individuals will receive their payments in November or December, with the funds being deposited into the bank account where their State Pension or benefits are typically paid.
The latest guidance also advises that if you haven’t received a letter or the money hasn’t been deposited into your account by 29th January 2025, you should contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.
Eligibility for the Winter Fuel Payment
You can qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment this year if you were born before 23rd September 1958 and live in Scotland, England, or Wales while receiving one of the specified benefits. In certain circumstances, you may be eligible even if you live abroad:
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income Support
- Working Tax or Child Tax Credits
When you won’t be eligible
You won’t be eligible if:
How much Winter Fuel Payment you’ll receive
If you live alone, you’ll receive either:
- £200 if you were born between September 23, 1944 and September 22, 1958
- £300 if you were born before September 23, 1944
If you live with someone and jointly claim any of the benefits, one of you will receive a payment of either:
- £200 if both of you were born between September 23, 1944 and September 22, 1958
- £300 if one or both of you were born before September 23, 1944
If you live in a care home and are eligible, you’ll receive either:
- £100 if you were born between September 23, 1944 and September 22, 1958
- £150 if you were born before September 23, 1944
Check if you need to claim
If you don’t receive any of the qualifying means-tested benefits, you’ll need to claim if either of the following apply:
How to claim
You can claim your Winter Fuel Payment by:
- Post – from September 30, 2024
- Phone – from October 28, 2024
If you’re on Universal Credit, you’ll be informed how to claim through a message in your journal.
The deadline for winter 2024 to 2025 claims is set for March 31, 2025. Comprehensive information about eligibility and payments can be found on the Winter Fuel Payment section of the GOV.UK website.
Pension Credit
Nearly 1.4 million elderly people across Great Britain, including over 125,000 residing in Scotland, are currently benefiting from this means-tested benefit.
There’s a common misconception among some older individuals that having savings or owning a home disqualifies them from this means-tested benefit. However, it can also provide access to assistance with housing costs, Winter Fuel Payment, and Council Tax.
Pension Credit boosts weekly income to a guaranteed minimum level of £218.15 for single pensioners or £332.95 for couples. It’s a tax-free payment for those who:
- have reached Pension Credit qualifying age, which is State Pension age, and
- live in Great Britain
Even an award of just £1 per week can unlock additional support.
New Pension Credit claims made before December 21, 2024, which later prove successful, will also qualify for a backdated Winter Fuel Payment. This is because claims can be backdated by up to three months, taking entitlement to within the September qualifying week.
How to check eligibility for Pension Credit quickly
Elderly people, or their friends and family, can swiftly check their eligibility and get an estimate of what they may receive using the online Pension Credit calculator on the GOV. UK website.
Alternatively, pensioners can directly contact the Pension Credit helpline to make a claim on 0800 99 1234 – lines are open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.
