Over one million state pensioners can expect to get a series of additional payments amounting to £368.75 later this year.
State Pensioners Can Expect Up to £368 to Hit Their Bank Accounts Before Year's End
The payments are not expected to arrive until November at the earliest, but it is necessary to be aware of the amount of money to expect and when you'll be able to claim it. These payments include:
Winter Fuel Payment
With energy bills expected to increase in October, many older people will rely on the Winter Fuel Payment to stay warm.
It is a yearly tax-free payment provided for families that include someone born on or before 22 September 1958 (for 2024-25).
The payment can reach up to £300 although the money you'll get depends on your age and whether other members of your family also qualify.
In Scotland, a new lump sum will substitute the annual Winter Fuel Payment. The new Pension Age Winter Heating Payment (PAWHP) will be provided by Social Security Scotland.
Eligibility is related to the State Pension age of people in each household — over 60, or over 80 — and whether they are single, with a partner, of the same age, or mixed ages.
If you live with a partner who qualifies for the payment, you may split it between the two of you.
The payment rates available will include £100, £150, £200 or £300 for individuals, which will make a typical household of two generally receive a total amount of £200 or £300.
Winter Heating Payment — £58.75 one-off payment
This benefit is only available in Scotland, and is paid per person. It replaced the lower £25 Cold Weather Payment provided by the DWP in winter 2022, which pensioners all over the rest of the UK can claim.
In contrast to the DWP benefit, it does not depend on a sustained period of cold weather in a particular location but is a yearly, one-off payment provided regardless of the temperature.
The payment increases each year in accordance with inflation and will reach £58.75 this winter. The payments were mainly provided in December last year.
It is designed to assist people on a low income or benefits who might require extra heating during the cold season — this includes Pension Credit, Universal Credit and Income Support claimants.
The qualifying period is generally a specific week in November, which is still to be validated.
DWP's Christmas Bonus — £10
The bonus is a one-off, tax-free £10 payment provided to people who receive of State Pension or those who claim a certain type of benefits during the qualifying week — usually the first week of December.
No application is required for the extra £10 since it automatically goes into the account where you receive your State Pension or benefit payment. It is issued as a separate payment, which does not depend on your scheduled State Pension or benefit payment, so it can be expected to arrive on a different day.