State pensioners sent four-week warning over £300 payment

Pensioners who could be eligible for Winter Fuel Payments worth up to £300 have been warned they only have a few weeks left if they are not signed up to Pension Credit. People must be getting Pension Credit or certain other benefits to be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment.

Hundreds of thousands of older people don't claim Pension Credit despite being eligible for it - meaning they will also lose out on the Winter Fuel Payment. Experts say it's worth claiming Pension Credit even if it is only worth a few pounds as it could also bag them the winter support which is a payment of either £200 or £300 to those of pension age.

The deadline for claiming Pension Credit in order to claim the Winter Fuel Payment is December 21. There has been added confusion this year after the winter payments were made means tested. In previous years, all pensioners received them.

READ MORE: Households told date for £200 cost of living payments

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But amid the Pension Credit debacle, there are fears about just how many low-income pensioners will actually miss out on the support. The charity Age UK explained: "Age UK urges older people on low and modest incomes to check whether they’re eligible for Pension Credit, to be assured of keeping their Winter Fuel Payment this winter.

"Many people are unaware that successful Pension Credit claims can be backdated by up to three months so there is more time to make a claim if people cannot meet the first deadline (which was in September). If you claim Pension Credit after you reach state pension age, the very last day you could claim and guarantee that you will get three months backdating to bring you within the qualifying week to also get a WFP would be December 21, 2024.

"If people want to claim over the phone, they’ll need to do so by Friday, December 20."