DWP sending letters alerting thousands of households to extra £450 in account

David Bentley
·3-min read
An elderly man holds UK bank notes in his hands as he warms himself by the fire
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Thousands of householders are receiving letters alerting them to the arrival of one or more payments that are either made by the Department for Work and Pensions or are based on being in receipt of specific DWP benefits. Extra cash is due in accounts to help people with costs over the winter of 2024-2025, including two payments detailed here that could mean an extra £450.

For the newly-restricted Winter Fuel Payment, letters advising people how much they will receive started to be sent in mid-October. If you're eligible, you'll get a letter either in October or November saying how much you will receive.

The DWP says most payments are made automatically in November or December. If you do not get a letter but you think you're eligible, check if you need to make a claim before calling the Winter Fuel Payment Centre on 0800 731 0160.

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You don't need to claim if you get any of the following: Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Income Support, income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit But you will need to claim if you live abroad in one of the countries with a cold winter where expats are able to get the UK fuel allowance.

This year's Winter Fuel Payment will be £200 for those who were born between September 23, 1944, and September 22, 1958, and a higher level of £300 for the over-80s, who will have been born before September 23, 1944.

Households are also being contacted if they qualify for the Warm Home Discount, a rebate of £150 applied to your electricity account. You should get a letter between October and early January 2025 if you're eligible for the scheme or first need to give more information to find out if you qualify.

If you are eligible for the scheme, your letter will confirm you do not need to do anything and you should receive the discount automatically on your electricity bill by March 31, 2025. If you need to provide further information because the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero cannot see all the details of your property or supplier, your letter will instruct you to call the helpline on 0800 030 9322.

You will also need to contact the helpline if you do not receive a letter by early January 2025 but believe you're eligible. You must get in touch before February 28, 2025.

People on the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit qualify automatically for the discount. Others may be eligible if they are on some other means-tested benefits and live in a home calculated to have high energy costs.

These other qualifying benefits include the Savings Credit element of Pension Credit, income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, Income Support, Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit.

Those who get both of these heating allowances would receive £450 this winter if on the higher level of Winter Fuel Payment. Others would be in line for £350. Several other payments are due over the coming weeks and months.

Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp. Join our dedicated community for the latest updates. You can find out more in our Money Saving Newsletter, which is sent out daily with all the updates you need to know on pensions, PIP, Universal Credit, benefits, finances, bills, and shopping discounts.

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