People living overseas are still eligible for the payment thanks to a loophole included as part of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement. Here’s what you need to know
Thousands of individuals are eligible for the £300 Winter Fuel Payment from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), even if they don’t receive Pension Credit.
The Winter Fuel Allowance will still be paid to those who aren’t eligible for the benefit. Older expats can continue to benefit from the energy bill subsidy due to a clause included in the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement. Earlier this year, Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed that the Winter Fuel Allowance would be means-tested and no longer universally available.
Expats won’t automatically receive the payment and must apply by filling out a form and using the DWP’s phone service from October 28, with postal applications opening on Monday. The deadline for claims for this winter season is March 31, 2025.
These recipients don’t need to be claiming Pension Credit to receive their Winter Fuel Payments. This is because Pension Credit can’t be claimed by those living abroad permanently.
Instead, there are other eligibility requirements they must meet such as being over the UK state pension age, receiving a benefit from the UK like state pension and getting a benefit from the country they reside in equivalent to Pension Credit, Universal Credit or any of the legacy benefits except for Housing Benefit.
The list of eligible countries includes Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and Switzerland.
