DWP begins sending out letters worth £300 to people who receive one

The Department for Work and Pensions has began to send out letters which are worth £300 for people who receive one. The DWP is set to send Winter Fuel Payment letters to 12 million people with state pensioners due the payment.

The DWP has confirmed that 12.7 million people will be informed about the new Winter Fuel Payment eligibility rules by the end of next month Pensions Minister Emma Reynolds said: "Pensioners in England and Wales will receive a letter informing them of the change in eligibility to the Winter Fuel Payment and encouraging them to check their eligibility for Pension Credit".

Ms Reynolds confirmed that "similar letters" will go out to pensioners in Scotland and Northern Ireland throughout November. She said: "In November we will also be writing to approximately 120,000 pensioners who are in receipt of Housing Benefit and who may also be eligible for, but not currently claiming, Pension Credit.

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"We will be inviting these pensioners to claim Pension Credit by the 21st of December, which is the latest date for making a successful backdated Pension Credit claim and still qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment." It comes as more pensioners will die because of the decision to withdraw the winter fuel payment, Wales' older people's commissioner has said.

Rhian Bowen-Davies said UK ministers needed to reverse the decision that will see 90% of pensioners between 66 and 79 lose the payment. The Labour-run UK government said cuts were necessary to address what it called the financial "black hole" it inherited from the Conservatives.

"People will feel the impact of this," said Ms Bowen-Davies. "We know that this could impact on 4,000 additional deaths this winter." Ms Burgess is now expecting to lose the £300 which had been "something that made us not have to worry if the weather got very cold".

"I appreciate it's not a huge amount of money but that £300 during the winter months is a big help," she said.