The benefits department announced this week that support payments – worth either £200 or £300 – would start being paid to eligible people from Monday, November 25
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is starting to pay out the Winter Fuel Payment for this year – and there is a code
The benefits department announced this week that support payments – worth either £200 or £300 – would start being paid to eligible people from Monday, November 25. The payments will be sent directly to the bank accounts of those who are eligible. To be eligible for this year’s support payment, you need to be over the state pension age of 66 and claiming one of the following benefits between September 16 and September 22, 2024:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
If you are born between September 23, 1944 and 22 September 22, 1958, you will receive a payment of £200, and those born before 23 September 23, 1944, will get £300. If you are eligible, you will have received a letter from the DWP telling you how much you are due. The payment will have a specific reference when it hits your bank account so you will know when you have been paid.
The reference for the payment in your bank account will be your National Insurance number followed by “DWP WFP”. For example, it would look like: “QQ123456B DWP WFP”.
It is possible to still get this year’s Winter Fuel Payment even if you weren’t claiming one of the listed benefits during the qualifying week. Pension Credit claims can be backdated by three months, which means you have until December 21 to apply and still be entitled to the Winter Fuel Payment.
The benefit – provided to low-income pensioners – tops up your weekly income to £218.15 a week if you are single or £332.95 if you have a partner. From next April, these rates will rise to £227.10 and £346.60 respectively. Pension Credit is also classed as a gateway benefit as by claiming, you could also be eligible for help with housing costs, council tax reductions and NHS treatment costs. Overall, it is worth around £3,900 a year.
You can apply for Pension Credit online on the Government’s website, by calling 0800 99 1234, or by printing out and filling in a paper application form. You can get a friend or family member to ring for you, but you’ll need to be with them when they do.
