DWP opens Winter Fuel Payment phone line with millions of people still to claim
by William Morgan, Linda Howard, Barbara Hodgson · ChronicleLiveWhile around 1.5 million people are set to receive automatic pay-outs this winter to help with fuel bills, others will need to make a claim for their cash and a phone line will be open this coming week to help them do so.
The Department for Work and Pensions is set to make automatic payments - tax-free money that will not affect other benefits - and many have already received letters about the scheme. But many others do not claim it - they will need to get in touch about the cash help and from this Monday two groups of pensioners are eligible to phone in their Winter Fuel Payment claims.
The payment is worth between £100 and £300 - the amount received being dependent upon age and household circumstances - but only those born before September 23, 1944, will receive the maximum £300, as The Express reports. Eligibility changes made by the Labour Government also mean that, as well as being over 66, individuals must have been receiving a means-tested benefit, such as Pension Credit, Tax Credits (with an annual award of at least £26) or Universal Credit (if part of a mixed age couple), on any day during the qualifying week of September 16-22.
Letters are being sent out by the DWP this month to encourage people to check their Pension Credit entitlement. Those in Scotland and Northern Ireland will receive their in November, making almost 13 million letters in total.
And people can make a telephone claim for this year's payment from this Monday, October 28. Postal claims opened earlier, on September 30, reports the Daily Record.
Who may need to claim a Winter Fuel Payment?
Guidance states that if you do not get any of the qualifying means-tested benefits, you need to claim if either of the following apply:
- You have not received the Winter Fuel Payment before - this may be because you have deferred claiming your State Pension
- You or your partner receive Universal Credit
You can claim the 2024/25 Winter Fuel Payment by:
- Post
- Phone - from October 28, 2024
If you receive Universal Credit, you will be told how to claim through a message in your journal. The guidance also states that if you do not get a letter or the money has not been paid into your account by January 29, 2025, contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.
Below is a quick overview of this year’s eligibility. Full details can be found on GOV.UK site here.
Winter Fuel Payment Eligibility
You can receive a Winter Fuel Payment this year if you were born before September 23, 1958 and in receipt of a qualifying benefit. You must also live in England, Scotland or Wales and get one of the following:
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income Support
- Working Tax Credits
- Child Tax Credits
In some circumstances, you might be eligible if you live abroad - find out more here.
Those not eligible
You will not be eligible if you:
- have been in hospital receiving 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
- were living in a care home for all of June 24 to September 22, 2024
Amount of Winter Fuel Payment
If you live alone, you will receive either £200 if you were born between September 23, 1944 and September 22, 1958 or £300 if you were born before September 23, 1944.
If you live with someone and it 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 or £300 if one or both of you were born before September 23, 1944.
If you live in a care home, you are eligible you will receive either £100 if you were born between September 23, 1944 and September 22, 1958 or £150 if you were born before September 23, 1944.
Online Petition
More than 560,000 people have signed an online petition created by Age UK urging Chancellor Rachel Reeves not to make Winter Fuel Payments means-tested, to ensure all State Pensioners receive additional annual help with the higher costs of heating bills during the winter months. The ‘Save the Winter Fuel Payment for struggling pensioners’ petition warns that the change to the eligibility will impact millions of older people who rely upon the extra financial support.
For more about the petition, or to sign or share, see the Age UK website here.
Pension Credit
Nearly 1.4 million older people across Great Britain are currently receiving the means-tested benefit which could provide an average of £3,900 in support during the year ahead. But latest DWP figures suggest there are still 760,000 eligible pensioners not claiming what they are entitled to.
Some think 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.
It is a tax-free payment for those who have reached Pension Credit qualifying age, which is State Pension age, and live in Great Britain. An award of just £1 per week is enough to unlock other support.
Quick check for Pension Credit eligibility
Older people, or friends and family, can quickly check their eligibility and receive an estimate of what they may receive by using the online Pension Credit calculator on GOV.UK here. Alternatively, pensioners can contact the Pension Credit helpline directly to make a claim on 0800 99 1234.
The lines are open 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. Expert help and advice is also available from:
Pension Credit tops up income to a minimum of £218.15 per week for single pensioners and £332.95 for couples. The amount can be more if a person has a disability or caring responsibilities.
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