MILLIONS of Brits need to check for a £600 payment this week or face missing out on free cost of living cash.
Over eight million households are due cash paid directly into their bank account to help them with the cost of living.
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But experts are warning households to look out for the payment this week to ensure that nobody misses out.
Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said: “With energy prices sky-high at the moment, the winter fuel payment – bolstered by an additional payment to help with the cost of living – has never been so important.
“Most people who are eligible will receive their winter fuel payment automatically but anyone who hasn’t been paid by this Friday should contact the DWP’s Winter Fuel Payment Centre on 0800 731 0160.”
The cash support is comprised of the winter fuel payment and a pensioner cost of living payment.
The winter fuel payment is usually worth between £100 and £300 and is paid to all those over the state pension age.
But to help support millions struggling with increased energy bills, an extra £300 per household is being paid on top this year.
Pensioners started receiving the free cash in November and the Department for Work and Pensions will continue making payments to all of those who are eligible up until Friday, January 13.
The money will appear in bank statements with the person’s National Insurance (NI) number followed by “DWP WFP” for those in Great Britain or “DFC WFP” for those eligible and living in Northern Ireland.
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If you haven’t received the cash boost by January 13, eligible pensioners should contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre, online, by post or over the phone by calling 0800 731 0160.
You’ll need the following information to hand.
- your National Insurance number
- your bank or building society details
- your BIC and IBAN numbers if you live in the EEA or Switzerland
- the date you were married or entered into a civil partnership (if appropriate)
Who is eligible for the payment?
You’ll qualify for a winter fuel payment if both of the following apply:
- you were born on or before September 25, 1956
- you lived in the UK for at least one day during the week of September 19 to 25, 2022, in what is known as the “qualifying week”
If you did not live in the UK during the qualifying week, you will still get the payment if both of the following apply:
- you live in Switzerland or an EEA country
- you have a “genuine and sufficient” link with the UK social security system, such as having lived or worked in the UK and having a family in the UK
But there are exclusions – you can’t get the payment if you live in Cyprus, France, Gibraltar, Greece, Malta, Portugal or Spain.
This is because the average winter temperature is higher than the warmest region of the UK.
You will also not qualify if you:
- are in hospital getting free treatment for more than a year
- need permission to enter the UK and your granted leave states that you can not claim public funds
- were in prison for the whole “qualifying week”
- lived in a care home for the whole time between 28 June to 26 September 2021, and got Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance
How much could I get?
Because the £300 is being made on top of what Winter Fuel Allowance you get, you might not get the full £600.
That’s because you receive £100 to £300 in Winter Fuel Payments depending on your circumstances.
The below is what you’ll get in total depending on your circumstances:
- 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
Do I need to apply for the payment?
Most people eligible for the winter fuel payment get it automatically. Payments should be made by January 13.
You won’t need to make a claim if you receive any of the following:
- 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 do not receive any of the above, you’ll need to claim if either of the following applies:
- You’ve not got the winter fuel payment since moving abroad
- You’ve deferred your state pension since your last winter fuel payment
You can claim online, by post or by phone by calling 0800 731 0160.
If it’s by post, you have to go on the government’s website and fill in a form and post it to Winter Fuel Payment Centre, Mail Handling Site A, Wolverhampton, WV98 1LR.
