Important letters about the Winter Fuel Payment are being sent out to pensioners across the UK. The eligibility for the payment has changed this year so the financial support, worth up to £300, will no longer automatically be sent to everybody of State Pension age.
Under new rules brought in by the Labour Government, pensioners must also receive a means-tested benefit, such as Pension Credit, to be eligible for the payments. Pension Credit is a hugely underclaimed benefit, and the DWP has been writing to pensioners inviting them to check if they can apply.
In response to a question in Parliament, pensions minister Emma Reynolds said: “The department sent letters between 7th October and 4th November 2024 to pensioners who, under previous rules, would have received a Winter Fuel Payment this year.
“The letters informed customers of the change in eligibility for receiving the payment and urged them to check their potential entitlement to Pension Credit which would provide them with a range of additional benefits, including the Winter Fuel Payment.”
The average Pension Credit claim is worth £4,000 a year in support. The benefit tops up your income, up to £218.15 a week for single claimants and up to £332.95 a week if you live with a partner.
You may still be eligible if your income is above these amounts, as there are additional weekly amounts on top of this depending on your situation, such as if you care for another adult.
Claiming the benefit will also entitle you to Cold Weather Payments and to a free TV licence for claimants aged 75 and over.
To be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment this year, you need to be claiming one of these benefits:
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income Support
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit.
You also need to have been receiving one of these benefits during the qualifying week of 16 to 22 September 2024.
However, Pension Credit claims can be backdated by three months, so if you get your application in now and you were eligible during the qualifying week, you can still get the payment.
Benefit payments will increase 1.7 percent next April while the state pension is increasing 4.1 percent. With the state pension increase, the full new state pension will increase from £221.20 a week to £230.30 a week.
The full basic state pension will go up from £169.50 a week to £176.45 a week.
