State pensioners will soon receive letters confirming their eligibility for the Winter Fuel Payment from the DWP. This payment helps pensioners with heating costs during the colder months, offering between £100 and £300 to those who qualify.
Eligible Pensioners to Receive Winter Fuel Payment Letters Soon
In the past, anyone over state pension age in the UK could get the payment, but this year, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has changed the rules. Now, only pensioners on means-tested benefits are eligible.
The amount people receive varies between £200 and £300, depending on their birthdate.
People who live alone will get £200 if they were born between September 23, 1944, and September 22, 1958, or £300 if they were born before September 23, 1944. If a person and their partner claim benefits together, one of them will receive £200 if either was born between those same dates, or £300 if one or both were born before September 23, 1944.
The Department for Work and Pensions will begin issuing letters to qualifying pensioners in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland by the end of October. The letters will be sent to Scottish households in November.
Who Qualifies for The Winter Fuel Payment?
Based on the new rules, people can qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment for 2024 to 2025 if they were born before September 23, 1958.
They must also reside in England or Wales and receive one of the benefits listed below:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
According to the latest figures, around 880,000 pensioners may qualify for Pension Credit but do not claim it, therefore it is crucial for people to check their eligibility as it may make them eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment.
Eligibility Requirements for Pension Credit
GOV.UK explains that in order to qualify for Pension Credit, you must live in England, Scotland, or Wales and have reached State Pension age. If you’re from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein, you usually need settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme. You might still be able to apply if you missed the 30 June 2021 deadline.
If you have a partner, you must include them in your application. You’re eligible if both of you have reached State Pension age, or if one of you gets Housing Benefit for those over State Pension age. A partner can be your spouse, civil partner, or someone you live with as a couple.
Income: Your weekly income must be less than £218.15 if you’re single, or £332.95 if you have a partner, to get a top-up. Even if your income is higher, you may still qualify if you have a disability, care for someone, have savings, or housing costs.
What counts as income: State Pension, other pensions, earnings from work, and most benefits (like Carer’s Allowance) are counted.
What doesn’t count as income: Benefits like Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, and Housing Benefit are not included in your income.
If you’ve delayed taking your pension, the amount you’d receive still counts as income. Deferring State Pension also counts, but you can’t build up extra for it if you or your partner are already receiving Pension Credit.
Savings: If you have £10,000 or less in savings, it doesn’t affect your Pension Credit. For anything over £10,000, every £500 counts as £1 of weekly income.
Going abroad: You can still get Pension Credit if you’re away from Great Britain for up to 4 weeks. In special cases, such as a close relative’s death, you may receive it for 4 more weeks. If you leave for medical treatment, you can get it for up to 26 weeks. However, you cannot get Pension Credit if you move away permanently.
Contact the Pension Service helpline if your situation changes.
My CAB put in a claim on my behalf in February 2024. Because my wife was diagnosed with terminal small cell lung cancer. No reply from DWP. I since then have put in 2 claims. Still nothing from DWP. When I’ve called DWP on numerous times, I’ve been told they will contact me in 10 days. Still nothing. My wife is off pension age but is not entitled to pension. Not enough NI contributions. So we’re both trying to survive of my £600+ a month. Plus her £108 weekly AA.