DWP one-week Winter Fuel Payment alert for anyone still due £300 energy support
A one-week alert has been issued for anyone who is still due the Winter Fuel Payment. If you definitely qualify under the new rules, the allowance is usually paid out in November and December, but it can arrive later than that.
The Department for Work and Pensions says people can contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre on 0800 731 0160 if they have not received the money in their account or a letter confirming eligibility by Wednesday, January 29, 2025. The amount paid is £200 if you were born between September 23, 1944, and September 22, 1958, and £300 if born before September 23, 1944.
The Labour Government has restricted eligibility for the payment to pensioner households who receive Pension Credit or some other means-tested benefits. These are Universal Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit.
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To be eligible for the heating support, you must also have received one of the above benefits during the qualifying week of September 16 to 22. The DWP says you won't be eligible if you live in Scotland, have been getting free treatment in hospital for more than a year, were in prison during the qualifying week or were living in a care home for the whole time from June 24 to September 22.
Those living north of the border will get a similar amount from Scotland's new devolved replacement, Pension Age Winter Heating Payment. This year, the DWP will pay it before Social Security Scotland takes over responsibility in winter 2025.
Since the Chancellor announced new restrictions to the fuel allowance, tens of thousands of people have tried to get Pension Credit. The Government estimates that 760,000 pensioner households are eligible for the income top-up benefit but do not claim it.
It encouraged people to apply before December 21 as a successful Pension Credit application can be backdated by up to three months, which would cover the qualifying week.
A Government spokesperson said: "Over one million pensioners will still receive the Winter Fuel Payment, and our drive to boost Pension Credit take-up has seen applications more than double with over 40,000 more pensioners now receiving it, as well as the Winter Fuel Payment.
"We continue to urge anyone who thinks they may be entitled to Pension Credit to check now, as all eligible claims can be backdated, and anyone who makes a successful claim before December 21 will receive their payment."
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