People who claim one DWP benefit being handed £4,387 in 'backdated' payment

Pension Credit claimants are set to be handed £4,087 in backdated payments plus a £300 Winter Fuel Allowance this Christmas after chasing the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for a YEAR. One claimant has spoken out over his 12-month ordeal to the Sun.

Richard Holden had been chasing the Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ) to approve his pension credit claim for almost a year. The 75-year-old told The Sun: "I've only just retired last August and I'm having to cut costs everywhere I look. I've phoned the DWP ten times since December last year, and every single time, the agent has just fobbed me off and told me that they’d be in touch in 10 working days.

"The last call I made was back in September. It's a total disgrace." A government spokesperson said: "We are sorry for the delay in confirming Mr Holden’s eligibility for pension credit. We have now issued payment for the pension credit owed backdated to August 2023, as well as a cost-of-living payment of £300.

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"We have apologised to Mr Holden, and we will learn lessons from the service delays in this case." The Winter Fuel Payment – worth up to £300 - is set to be means-tested and delivered to those on Pension Credit to ensure it is targeted towards those in most need.

Around 1.3 million households in England and Wales will continue to receive Winter Fuel Payments. The Winter Fuel Payment is worth £300 for households with someone aged 80 or over. Households with someone aged 66-79 will receive £200.

People who have reached State Pension age before September 23, 2024 and are in receipt of Pension Credit, Income Support, Income based JSA, Income related ESA and Universal Credit, will be entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment – subject to eligibility conditions.