When DWP Winter Fuel Payments will be made in 2024 and how to claim if you are eligible

The tightening of eligibility criteria for Winter Fuel Payments by Chancellor Rachel Reeves has sparked controversy, leaving hundreds of thousands of Brits ineligible for the seasonal £200 or £300 payments.

So, what changes can those still eligible expect?

For the most part, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will administer Winter Fuel Payments in the same way as last year.

Eligible Brits should receive a letter outlining the amount due and specifying the bank account into which it will be paid, typically the same account where Pension Credit or other benefit payments are received. If you're unable to open or manage the designated account, you can opt to receive the payment through the Payment Exception Service.

Regardless of the method chosen, the payment should be made automatically between November and December. However, the DWP website indicates that payments could take until March to process, so pensioners needn't worry about being overlooked until then.

Conversely, if you don't receive a letter or if your payment hasn't arrived by January 29, 2025, you can reach out to the Winter Fuel Payment Centre. You'll also need to contact the centre if you wish to return a payment or cancel future payments, reports the Express.

This year, due to additional qualifying criteria for Winter Fuel Payments, many individuals have applied for Pension Credit for the first time. The process for claiming their seasonal payment may vary slightly depending on when they apply.

Money Helper emphasises that people have until December 21, 2024, to claim Pension Credit and still qualify for this year's Winter Fuel Payment. However, those applying late should be aware that it can take between six to eight weeks to process new Pension Credit claims due to a high volume of applicants.

This is because Pension Credit can be backdated by up to three months and individuals need to be eligible, if not applying for or already receiving, Pension Credit during the qualifying week for Winter Fuel Payments which was September 16 to 22.

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