The Winter Fuel Payment will automatically be paid into the bank accounts of qualifying persons – but the exact amount will be higher for those of a certain age
State pensioners will lose their Winter Fuel Payment of up to £300 this winter if they no longer claim a qualifying benefit.
The government earlier this year scrapped the payment for millions of pensioners after switching to means-tested instead of universal. However, many people may not realise that even if they do qualify for the scheme, the exact amount they receive will change depending on their year of birth and potentially on other circumstances too.
Previously, the Winter Fuel Payment was automatically given to all state pensioners. However, from this winter you must to be claiming a qualifying benefit like Pension Credit in order to get it following a change in government rules. People who are state pension age but under 80 – born on or before September 22 1958 – and qualify will receive a £200 payment. Anyone aged over 80 – born on or before September 23, 1944 or earlier – will receive £300.
The amount given is determined on your birth date and your circumstances between 16 and 22 September 2024, which is known as the ‘qualifying week’. If you missed it, however, you can still backdate Pension Credit claims until December, reports the Express.
This means that if you are now aged over 80 and qualify, your Winter Fuel Payment will be increased from £200 to £300. The majority of those who qualify will receive a letter informing them of the amount and which bank account it will be paid into, which is usually the same as one as Pension Credit or other benefits.
A spokesperson for Age UK said: “If you or your partner claims Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance, the payment should go to the main claimant of the benefit automatically. If you’ve never received a Winter Fuel Payment before, or if you claim Universal Credit, you might need to make a claim.
“And if you receive Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit, you must make a claim. You should receive your payment between mid-November and Christmas. Call the Winter Fuel Payment helpline on 0800 731 0160 if you have any enquiries or you don’t receive your payment.”
