HOUSEHOLDS have just hours left to apply for £600 in energy bill help or risk missing out.
Millions on a state pension and other benefits received the winter fuel payment to help cover bills over the colder months.
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The payment is tax-free and worth between £250 and £600, depending on your specific circumstances.
The amount you get includes a “Pensioner Cost of Living Payment” – between £150 and £300.
In most cases, payments were made automatically, in November and December.
And all automatic payments should have been made by January 26.
But for those who think they should have got the cash and didn’t, there are just hours left to apply.
The latest time you can claim the free cash is by midnight on March 31.
If you didn’t receive it you need to act – by contacting the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.
If you live in the UK, the phone number to call is 0800 731 0160 Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
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If you live outside the UK the number to call is +44 (0)191 218 7777.
Meanwhile, you can get in touch via post, which should be directed to: Winter Fuel Payment Centre, Mail Handling Site, A, Wolverhampton, WV98 1LR.
Make sure you have the following details ready to hand:
Who is eligible for the winter fuel payment?
In most cases, you will get a winter fuel payment if you were born before September 25, 1957.
You usually need to live in the UK, but you might also qualify if you moved to a specific country before January 1, 2021, and have a link to the UK.
This includes having lived or worked in the UK or having family in the UK here’s the list of those eligible countries:
- 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
In some circumstances, you won’t be eligible for the winter fuel payment, even if you were born before September 25, 1957.
You won’t qualify if:
- 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
Those living in a care home will also 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?
In the vast majority of cases you don’t have to claim the winter fuel payment, say for example 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 injury disablement benefit
- Incapacity benefit
- Industrial death benefit
If you are not on one of the above, you will need to apply by March 31.
You can do this if either of the following applies:
- You’ve not received the winter fuel payment before
- You’ve deferred your state pension since your last winter fuel payment
How much will I get?
The amount you will get depends on your circumstances. 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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How to check what benefits you could be entitled to
The quickest way to see what benefits you may be able to claim is to use one of the three benefit calculators recommended by Gov.uk.
Each one is free to use. They are:
Before using the tools, make sure you have key financial information to hand, such as bank and savings statements, and information on pensions and existing benefits.
If you live with a partner or family, get their basic financial information together too as this could affect your claim.
For each of these, you’ll be asked information about your circumstances, such as your current employment and income.
You’ll also need to give information about yourself, including your age and who you live with.
You can then use the contact information on Gov.uk to get the ball rolling and apply for what you’re owed.
Of course, the tools only provide an indicator of what benefits you can claim – and usually don’t include means tested benefits, so you may be entitled to even more.
Meanwhile, over a million benefit claimants are set to get a pay rise in days and we reveal the key date to circle in your calendar.
Plus, Martin Lewis has issued a “last chance” warning to parents applying for free childcare.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories.
