DWP warns date in January could cost state pensioners £300 each

The final date a £300 Winter Fuel Payment will be made has been confirmed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The Department for Work and Pensions has announced the final date to expect your Winter Fuel Payment.

From November, eligible households will receive automatic payments of up to £300. Payments will then continue to be made throughout December. The DWP has advised all those eligible for the cash to expect it to enter their bank accounts by January 29 at the latest.

The DWP says you can contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre if you’re eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment and you need to report a change of circumstances, need to change your address or personal details, want to cancel future payments or want to return a payment.

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The DWP states: "Report any change of circumstances as soon as possible - for example, if you stop getting a benefit, move house or move into a care home. These can affect how much Winter Fuel Payment you get. If you cancel your payments, you can change this at any time.

"When you contact the payment centre, you’ll need to tell them your personal details like your name, your address, your date of birth, your National Insurance number. You can either call the helpline or send a letter by post." If you’re in the UK call via 0800 731 0160 or use textphone by contacting Relay UK on 18001 then 0800 731 0160.

You can also write to Winter Fuel Payment Centre at Mail Handling Site A in Wolverhampton with postcode WV98 1LR. You may have to repay the money if you did not report a change straight away or gave wrong information or were overpaid by mistake, the DWP says.

You can find out how to repay the money you owe from benefit overpayment online.