HOUSEHOLDS in line for a free cash payment worth up to £600 should receive it by a certain date – and need to act if they don’t.
Millions on a state pension and other benefits should have received a winter fuel payment by the end of January next year.
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It is designed to help older people with the cost of heating their homes over the colder months.
The payment is tax-free and worth between £250 and £600, depending on your specific circumstances.
It is usually worth less, but for the second year running, the Government is topping up the payment with £150 to £300 through pensioner cost of living cash.
Anyone who is eligible but doesn’t get the payment automatically needs to apply by March 31.
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But for those where payments are made automatically, which is most people, January 26 is the last day they should receive the money.
If your payment hasn’t been made by this date, you should contact the Winter Fuel Payment centre by phone or post.
If you live in the UK, the phone number to call is 0800 731 0160 Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
If you live outside the UK the number to call is +44 (0)191 218 7777.
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Meanwhile, any post should be directed to Winter Fuel Payment Centre, Mail Handling Site A, Wolverhampton, WV98 1LR.
When contacting the Winter Fuel Payment Centre you should have the following details ready to hand:
Who is and isn’t eligible for the winter fuel payment?
You will be eligible for a winter fuel payment if you were born before September 25, 1957, live in the UK and are on certain benefits.
You might also qualify if you moved to an eligible country before January 1, 2021, and have a link to the UK, including having lived or worked in the UK or having family in the UK.
The list of eligible countries is:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- Germany
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Sweden
- Switzerland
Even if you were born before September 25, 1957, you won’t be eligible under the following circumstances:
- you have been in hospital getting free treatment for more than a year
- you need permission to enter the UK and your granted leave says that you cannot claim public funds
- you were in prison for the whole of the week of 18 to 24 September 2023
Anyone living in a care home will not be eligible for a winter fuel payment if both of the following apply:
- you get Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) or income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- you lived in a care home for the whole time from June 26 to September 24, 2023
Do I need to apply for the payment?
You don’t need to claim the winter fuel payment if you receive any of the following benefits:
- State Pension
- Pension Credit
- Attendance Allowance
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Carers Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- Income Support
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- awards from the War Pensions Scheme
- Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
- Incapacity Benefit
- Industrial Death Benefit
If you have not received a Winter Fuel Payment before, you only need to claim if any of the following apply:
- You do not get benefits or the State Pension
- The only benefit you get is Adult Disability Payment from the Scottish Government, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, Child Benefit or Universal Credit
- You live in Switzerland or an EEA country
If you have had a winter fuel payment before, you only need to claim if since your last payment you have either:
- Deferred your State Pension
- Moved to Switzerland or an EEA country
If you do need to claim you can do so by phone or by post.
The deadline to make a claim for winter 2023/34 is March 31, 2024, which can be done through the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.
How much will I get?
Not everyone will receive a £600 winter fuel payment, and the amount you do get depends on your circumstances.
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These are the amounts you should receive:
- You qualify and live alone – £500 to £600
- You qualify alongside someone you live with who is under 80 and also qualifies – £250 to £350
- You qualify and live with someone over 80 who also qualifies – £250 to £300
- If either you or your partner also receives benefits – £500 to £600 (this amount is the same if someone you live with who isn’t your partner receives certain benefits)
- If you qualify but live in a care home and don’t get benefits – £250 to £300
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