DWP issues Winter Fuel Payments update for state pensioners on legacy benefits
The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed that people over State Pension age in receipt of Working Tax or Child Tax Credits will qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment this year
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced that individuals over the State Pension age who are receiving Working Tax or Child Tax Credits will be eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment this year, provided their annual award is at least £26 and includes at least one day in the qualifying week of 16 to 22 September.
To qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment ranging from £100 to £300, DWP clarified that applicants must also have been born on or before September 23, 1958. Eligible pensioners can expect the payment to be deposited directly into their bank accounts during November or December, with letters being dispatched in advance to inform them of the amount they will receive.
DWP further stated: "As Tax Credits are closing, most people on Tax Credits will get a notification informing them they will need to apply for either Universal Credit or Pension Credit to continue getting financial support. It is important they do not apply before they get their notification as it could affect how much they will get."
In some cases, eligibility may extend to those living abroad further details can be found on the official website, reports the Daily Record.
However, you will not qualify if you are not receiving one of the specified means-tested 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
Under certain conditions, eligibility may extend to those living abroad.
You will not qualify 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 you could receive
If you live alone
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
If you and your partner 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
If you are eligible you will get 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 apply
If you don't receive any of the qualifying means-tested benefits, you need to apply if either of the following applies:
- You have not received the Winter Fuel Payment before
- You or your partner get Universal Credit
How to apply
You can apply for Winter Fuel Payment by:
- Post - from September 16, 2024
- Phone - from October 10, 2024
If you're on Universal Credit, you'll be informed how to apply through a message in your journal.
The deadline to apply for winter 2024 to 2025 is March 31, 2025. Full details about eligibility and payments can be found on the Winter Fuel Payment section on GOV.UK here.
Pension Credit
Nearly 1.4m older people across Great Britain, including more than 125,000 living in Scotland, are currently receiving the means-tested benefit.
Some older people believe that because they have savings or own their home, they would not be eligible for the means-tested benefit, which can also provide access to help with housing costs, Winter Fuel Payment and Council Tax.
Pension Credit tops up weekly income to a guaranteed minimum level of £218.15 a week for single pensioners or £332.95 for couples An award of just £1 per week is enough to unlock other support.
New applications for Pension Credit submitted before December 21, 2024, that are later approved will also be eligible for a retroactive Winter Fuel Payment. This is due to the fact that claims can be backdated by up to three months, extending eligibility to within the September qualifying week.
Fastest way to verify Pension Credit eligibility
Elderly individuals, or their friends and family, can swiftly check their eligibility and receive an estimate of potential benefits using the online Pension Credit calculator on GOV. UK here.
Alternatively, pensioners can directly contact the Pension Credit helpline to submit a claim at 0800 99 1234 - lines are open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.
Expert help and advice is also available from:
