State pensioners told ‘act now’ or miss out on winter fuel allowance | Personal Finance | Finance
Pensioners are being urged to act quickly to ensure they don’t miss out on this year’s Winter Fuel Payment, which can amount to an additional £300 boost for eligible households.
The qualifying week for the Winter Fuel Payment runs from Monday, September 16 to Sunday, September 22, 2024. If individuals are found eligible during these dates, they will receive the payment this winter.
To qualify, people living in England Or Wales, who were born on or before September 22, 1958, must receive one of the following means-tested benefits:
- Pension Credit
- Universal CreditUniversal Credit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- An award of Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit of at least £26 for the tax year 2024-25.
As the qualifying week approaches, it’s essential for people to check their eligibility for these benefits. Some, such as Pension Credit, can be backdated, so acting promptly is important to ensure they don’t miss out.
As many as 800,000 pensioners are thought to be eligible for Pension Credit but aren’t claiming it.
Caroline Abrahams CBE, charity director at Age UK said: “Pension Credit not only gives a significant boost to people’s weekly income; it also opens the door to a wealth of extra support including help with energy bills, discounts off household bills, and if you are over 75 a free TV licence.
“There is a £1.7billion pot of money waiting for those older people who are entitled to it, and it could make a big difference to their quality of life.”
Ms Abrahams continued: “Claiming Pension Credit is the main pensioner benefit that also qualifies people for a Winter Fuel Payment, so it’s never been more important to check whether you’re entitled to it.
“If you’ve been hearing about Pension Credit and wonder if you might be entitled to it, please contact Age UK for more information. Don’t be put off by the forms – Age UK can help you to fill them out.”
She added: “Many people often think if you have some savings or a small pension there’s no point applying but that’s often not the case.
“The sooner people act, the sooner they will find out if they are eligible for some of the additional financial help, and this could be life-changing for them.”
Who is eligible for 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.
People are most likely to be eligible if their total weekly income is roughly under £220.
However, if their income is higher, they might still be eligible so it’s worth checking the Government Pension Credit calculator just in case.
To apply for the benefit, people can reach the helpline by telephone on 0800 99 1234 or by textphone on 0800 169 0133. They can also apply online here.
