DWP Winter Fuel Payment eligibility changes - check if you qualify for £300 support

Kieran Isgin & Annabal Bagdi
·2-min read
People across Britain are set to receive a financial boost from the Department of Work and Pensions
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Millions of people are set to receive a financial boost from the Department of Work and Pensions. The support will help people with their heating costs.

But the government has changed who is eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment this year. It means the number of pensioners who can access the money has been reduced.

Last year, every pensioner automatically qualified for the one-off payment. But this year it will be means tested and only available to those on Pension Credit or certain other entitlements.

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Eligible Winter Fuel Payment benefits

If you were born before September 23, 1958 and live in England, Scotland or Wales you can qualify for Winter Fuel Payment this year, Mirror reports. In certain circumstances, you may be eligible if you live abroad

You must also be receiving one of these benefits:

  • 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 willnot be eligible if you:

  • Are not in receipt of one of the means-tested benefits listed above

  • Have been in hospital getting free treatment for more than a year

  • Need permission to enter the UK and your granted leave says that you cannot claim public funds

  • Were in prison for the whole of the qualifying week of September 16 to 22, 2024

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 do not receive any of the qualifying means-tested benefits, you will need to claim if either of the following apply:

  • You have not received the Winter Fuel Payment before

  • You or your partner get Universal Credit

How to claim

You can claim your Winter Fuel Payment by:

  • Post - from September 30, 2024

  • Phone - from October 28, 2024

If you are on Universal Credit, you will be told how to claim through a message in your journal. The deadline for winter 2024 to 2025 claims is March 31, 2025.

Information about eligibility and payments can be found on the Winter Fuel Payment section of the GOV.UK website.

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