DWP handing out £8,000 Winter Fuel Payment 'boost' to state pensioners

A man has been handed a £8,000 bonus from the Department for Work and Pensions - plus a Winter Fuel Allowance - thanks to a "loophole". The upcoming change to Winter Fuel Payment eligibility means it's more important than ever to make sure you claim what you're entitled to.

Although there’s an income limit on who can get Pension Credit, this limit is higher if you get Attendance Allowance (for older people who need help and support with day-to-day activities). If you qualify for Attendance Allowance, the income threshold for qualifying for Pension Credit goes up by £82 per week (on top of your existing Attendance Allowance payment, which isn't counted as income).

As a result of getting Pension Credit, you will also be eligible for Winter Fuel Payments, worth £300. A woman named Adele wrote to Money Saving Expert and said: "Thank you for bringing AA [Attendance Allowance] to my attention.

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"I've successfully claimed for my dad who has chronic arthritis - so he now gets an extra £72 per week. He has struggled for years, he'd not been able to claim Pension Credit previously as he has a small private pension.

"Now he has AA, he's also eligible for a further £35 per week Pension Credit, and his Housing Benefit has been increased by £40 per week. So a total extra of £150 per week - a huge help, and he will still be eligible for Winter Fuel Allowance, so will receive annually almost £8,000 extra. It will change his life and I'm really grateful to you."

Previously, Winter Fuel Payments worth up to £300 had been made available to EVERYONE above State Pension age in the UK (most recently, this included those born on or before 24 September 1957). However, in July, the Government announced that this would no longer be the case.