Three reasons pensioners may be forced to pay DWP's £300 winter fuel payment back

It comes following changes to the winter fuel payment

Brits have been told that they might have to pay back £300 if they fail to do one of three things. It comes following changes to the winter fuel payment.

The cash will be means-tested going forward, having previously been universal. Labour has been under scrutiny since they announced the change earlier this year.

In July, Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed that the allowance would now be reserved for those on means-tested payments from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), such as Pension Credit. This is a setback for those of state pension age who have struggled with the cost of living in recent years, particularly with regard to energy costs.

Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp

And now pensioners have been warned that they face having to pay the money back if:

• they do not report a change in circumstance
• they provide incorrect information
• they are overpaid by DWP.

UK residents are being urged to notify the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) of any changes in their circumstances that might affect their claims, to prevent any issues. You can inform the government of any changes by calling the Winter Fuel Payment Centre at 0800 731 0160. For those living outside the UK, the DWP helpline is reachable at +44 (0)191 218 7777.

Age UK's charity director, Caroline Abrahams, recently said: "If [Labour] is dead set on pressing ahead, the very least they should do is to greatly expand the numbers of pensioners who will receive a WFP beyond the small group they have so far said will retain it.

"They could achieve this in part by automatically giving the Payment to pensioners on other benefits, such as Housing Benefit, Council Tax Support, Personal Independence Allowance, Attendance Allowance and Carers Allowance.

"Even this would not be enough though because many pensioners on low incomes or in vulnerable circumstances would still miss out on a WFP when they can ill afford to do so."

Birmingham: A Child Poverty Emergency

Child poverty is soaring in Birmingham and without urgent change, will only get worse. Having worked with charities and community groups, BirminghamLive is campaigning for the following changes to start to turn the tide:

1. End the two-child benefit cap
2. Provide free school meals to every child in poverty
3. Create a city “aid bank” for baby and child essentials
4. Protect children’s and youth services
5. Create permanent, multi year Household Support Fund and give more Discretionary Housing grants
6. Set up child health and wellbeing hubs in our most deprived neighbourhoods
7. Appoint a Birmingham child poverty tsar
8. Provide free public travel for young people

You can see why in more detail here.

Read our full report Birmingham: A Child Poverty Emergency here.

What you can do to help.