Following Labour’s dramatic U-Turn on Winter Fuel Payment eligibility, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has issued a four-word warning for Brits being contacted about the benefit
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has issued a stark warning following major changes to the Winter Fuel Benefit.
In a major U-turn, nine million pensioners will now receive the benefit, which is designed to help with soaring energy bills during the winter months. Worth £200, or £300 for households with someone aged over 80, the Winter Fuel Benefit was controversially limited last year to state pensioners who are in receipt of means-tested benefits including Pension Credit, Universal Credit and Housing Benefit. As previously reported, in Scotland, the Winter Fuel Payment has been replaced by the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.
However, Chancellor Rachel Reeves unveiled in the House of Commons earlier this week (June 11) that huge changes to the benefit have been pushed through. Now, Winter Fuel Payments in England and Wales will be automatically awarded to all households where someone is over state pension age.
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However, those earning more than £35,000 a year will have to pay back the benefit, which will be automatically recovered by HMRC through PAYE or through self-assessment return. You can opt out of receiving the payment if your income is over £35,000 – with details on this still waiting to be confirmed.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter) HMRC warned Brits to ‘watch out for scams’ and protect their money after criminals have taken advantage of the government’s shakeup. “Some customers are being contacted by scammers about claiming the Winter Fuel Payment,” it wrote.
“We’ll never contact you by text to claim this money or send personal information. You don’t need to do anything. Payments will be made automatically.”
On its website, HMRC has created a checklist to help Brits decipher if a ‘suspicious contact’ is a scam as opposed to a genuine phone call, text message or email. While HMRC does send text messages to some of its customers, you might be a victim of a scam if your correspondence:
- Rushes you
- Is threatening
- Is unexpected
- Asks for personal information like bank details
- Tells you to transfer money
- Offers a refund, tax rebate or grant
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Winter Fuel Payments will still be issued per household, but the income eligibility is based per person. For example, if you have two people living together and one earns £30,000 a year and the other earns £40,000, one person would keep their share of the Winter Fuel Payment but the other would pay it back.
Again, these payments will be automatically made – so Brits don’t need to apply or contact HMRC to receive the benefit. Most people normally get their Winter Fuel Payment from November every year. Your eligibility is based on your age by the end of the qualifying week.
You can check the government’s full list of genuine HMRC contacts here.
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