Millions of state pensioners are up to £300 worse off as of today after the DWP began issuing Winter Fuel Payments for this winter.
The payments have usually been sent to every state pensioner in the UK, with £200 for under-75s and £300 for those aged over 75.
But this winter marks the first year that most state pensioners will not receive the money.
The DWP payment is being sent out to pensioners today and through the rest of this week, but millions of pensioners will this week be checking their bank accounts and find that the money is missing.
This is not a mistake, but is by design. Labour announced that the Winter Fuel Payments will no longer be sent out to all state pensioners but instead are being means tested, so only those who are correctly claiming a qualifying benefit such as Pension Credit or Universal Credit will receive the cash.
Even then, those on low incomes still need to apply for Pension Credit to actually receive it, then apply for the Winter Fuel Payment as well, so as many as 800,000 pensioners who are poor enough to need the money still won’t get it when others receive their payments this week.
The DWP said: “The vast majority of these payments will land in pensioners’ bank accounts automatically, directly helping vulnerable households with their energy bills. The value of a Winter Fuel Payment is £200 for people born between 23 September 1944 and 22 September 1958, and £300 for those born before 23 September 1944.
“The payment will be credited to bank accounts from 25 November with the payment reference beginning with the customer’s National Insurance number followed by ‘DWP WFP’.
“Those who do not receive a payment by 29 January 2025 should contact the department.”
The Department for Work and Pensions is warning pensioners on low incomes to make sure they claim Pension Credit, worth up to £3,900 a year.
The deadline to claim Pension Credit and still get your £300 Winter Fuel Payment is fast approaching, so anyone who can get the money must get their claim in by December 21 and backdate it in order to get the cash this winter.
The DWP added: “The Government continues to urge pensioners on a low income to apply for Pension Credit before the 21 December deadline – all eligible claimants would receive up to £300 with the Winter Fuel Payment as well as any backdated Pension Credit arrears where applicable.
“Pension Credit could be worth on average up to £3,900 a year and acts as a gateway to other important benefits including help with housing costs, council tax reductions and NHS treatment costs. The Pension Credit standard minimum guarantee will soon be worth £227.10 a week for a single person and £346.60 for a couple.”
It’s worth noting that these quoted figures are from next April. Currently, you only need an income of around £218 as a single person and £332 as a couple to be eligible for Pension Credit this winter.
