Winter Fuel Payment DWP letters to be sent out - who could get up to £300

Changes to the eligibility for Winter Fuel Payments mean that approximately 1.5 million individuals over State Pension age will receive a payment of £100, £200 or £300 this year to help with increased heating costs during the winter months. Letters will be dispatched to eligible pensioners next month, with payments expected to arrive in November and December.

Pensioners who are eligible and receiving a means-tested benefit such as Pension Credit, Tax Credits or Universal Credit (only mixed couples), during any day of the qualifying week (September 16-22), will receive a Winter Fuel Payment. Eligible pensioners aged between 66 and 79 will automatically receive a payment of £200 into their bank account, while those over 80 will receive £300.

Those over 80 residing in care homes will receive £150, while those aged between 66 and 70 will receive £100. This policy change will result in around 10m pensioners not receiving payments this winter, including 850,000 Scots.

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Winter Fuel Payment explained

In summary, people born before September 23, 1958 who are receiving a qualifying income-related benefit such as Pension Credit during the qualifying week of September 16-22, 2024 will automatically receive the payment - the money is tax-free and will not affect other benefits, reports the Daily Record.

According to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on GOV. UK, eligible pensioners will be notified by letter in October or November about their Winter Fuel Payment amount, as reported by the Daily Record.

Most qualifying individuals will receive their payments in November or December, with the funds being deposited into the bank account where they usually receive their State Pension or benefits.

The latest guidance also suggests that if you haven't received a letter or the money hasn't been deposited into your account by 29th January 2025, you should get in touch with the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.

Eligibility for the Winter Fuel Payment

You can qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment this year if you were born before 23rd September 1958 and live in Scotland, England, or Wales while receiving one of the specified benefits. In certain circumstances, you may be eligible even if you live abroad:

• 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 won't be eligible if:

• you are not getting one of the means-tested benefits listed above

• Have been in hospital getting free treatment for over 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 will receive

If you live on your own, you will get 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 get 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 will 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 don't receive any of the qualifying means-tested benefits, you'll 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're a Universal Credit claimant, you'll be notified on how to claim via a message in your journal.

The cut-off for winter 2024 to 2025 claims is slated for March 31, 2025. Detailed information about eligibility and payments can be found on the Winter Fuel Payment section of the GOV.UK website.

Pension Credit

Nearly 1.4 million elderly people across Great Britain, including over 125,000 living in Scotland, are currently reaping the benefits of this means-tested benefit.

There's a common misunderstanding among some older folks that having savings or owning a home disqualifies them from this means-tested benefit. However, it can also provide access to help with housing costs, Winter Fuel Payment, and Council Tax.

Pension Credit boosts weekly income to a guaranteed minimum level of £218.15 for single pensioners or £332.95 for couples. It's a tax-free payment for those who:

• live in Great Britain and

• have reached Pension Credit qualifying age, which is State Pension age

Even an award of just £1 per week can unlock additional support.

New Pension Credit claims made before December 21, 2024, which later prove successful, will also qualify for a backdated Winter Fuel Payment. This is because claims can be backdated by up to three months, taking entitlement to within the September qualifying week.

How to check eligibility for Pension Credit quickly

Elderly people, or their friends and family, can swiftly check their eligibility and get an estimate of what they may receive using the online Pension Credit calculator on the GOV. UK website.

Alternatively, pensioners can directly ring the Pension Credit helpline on 0800 99 1234 to make a claim - lines are open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.