The eligibility change to Winter Fuel Payments means that around 1.5 million people over State Pension age will receive a payment of £100, £200 or £300 this year to help cover the costs of higher heating bills during the colder months. Letters from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will be sent to all pensioners before the end of this month explaining the policy change and how much they can expect to receive – if they are entitled to the lump sum.
Pensioners in receipt of a means-tested benefit such as Pension Credit, Tax Credits (an annual award of at least £26) or Universal Credit (mixed couples only), during any day of the qualifying week (September 16-22), will receive a Winter Fuel Payment. Eligible pensioners aged between 66 and 79 will receive a payment of £200 automatically into their bank account, while those over 80 will receive £300.
People over 80 living in a care home will receive £150, those aged between 66 and 79 will receive £100. The policy change will see around 10m pensioners miss out on payments this winter, including 850,000 living in Scotland.
Pension Age Winter Heating Payment is replacing Winter Fuel Payments for people living in Scotland, however, delivery of the new devolved benefit by the Scottish Government will not start until winter 2025/26. DWP will issue payments to Scots this winter.
Winter Fuel Payment in a nutshell
People born before September 23, 1958 in receipt of a qualifying income-related benefit such as Pension Credit during the qualifying week of September 16-22, 2024 will receive the payment automatically – the money is tax-free and will not affect other benefits.
DWP guidance on GOV.UK states that letters will be sent to eligible pensioner households in mid-October telling them how much Winter Fuel Payment they will receive.
Most eligible people will be paid in November or December. You will be paid into the bank account your State Pension or benefits are usually paid into.
The new guidance also states that if you do not get a letter or the money has not been paid into your account by January 29, 2025, contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.
Winter Fuel Payment eligibility
You can get a Winter Fuel Payment this year if you were born before September 23, 1958.
You must also live in Scotland, England or Wales and get one of the following:
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income Support
- Working Tax or Child Tax Credits
In some circumstances, you might be eligible if you live abroad – find out more here.
When you will not be eligible
You will not be eligible if you:
-
Are not in receipt of one of the means-tested benefits listed above
- Have been in hospital getting free treatment for more than a year
- Need permission to enter the UK and your granted leave says that you cannot claim public funds
- Were in prison for the whole of the qualifying week of September 16 to 22, 2024
How much Winter Fuel Payment you will receive
If you live alone
You will get either:
- £200 if you were born between September 23, 1944 and September 22, 1958
- £300 if you were born before September 23, 1944
If you live with someone
If you and your partner jointly claim any of the benefits, one of you will get a payment of either:
- £200 if both of you were born between September 23, 1944 and September 22, 1958
- £300 if one or both of you were born before September 23, 1944
If you live in a care home
If you are eligible you will get either:
- £100 if you were born between September 23, 1944 and September 22, 1958
- £150 if you were born before September 23, 1944
Check if you need to claim
If you do not get any of the qualifying means-tested benefits, you need to claim if either of the following apply:
- You have not received the Winter Fuel Payment before
- You or your partner get Universal Credit
How to claim
You can claim Winter Fuel Payment by:
- Post – from September 30, 2024
- Phone – from October 28, 2024
If you get Universal Credit, you will be told how to claim through a message in your journal.
The deadline to make a claim for winter 2024 to 2025 is March 31, 2025. Full details about eligibility and payments can be found on the Winter Fuel Payment section on GOV.UK here.
Pension Credit
Nearly 1.4m older people across Great Britain, including more than 125,000 living in Scotland, are currently receiving the means-tested benefit.
Some older people think because they have savings or own their home they would not be eligible for the means-tested benefit, which can also provide access to help with housing costs, Winter Fuel Payment and Council Tax.
Pension Credit tops up weekly income to a guaranteed minimum level of £218.15 a week for single pensioners or £332.95 for couples. It is a tax-free payment for those who:
- have reached Pension Credit qualifying age, which is State Pension age, and
- live in Great Britain
An award of just £1 per week is enough to unlock other support.
New claims for Pension Credit made before December 21, 2024 which later turn out to be successful will also qualify for a backdated Winter Fuel Payment. This is because claims can be backdated by up to three months, taking entitlement to within the September qualifying week.
Quickest way to check eligibility for Pension Credit
Older people, or friends and family, can quickly check their eligibility and get an estimate of what they may receive by using the online Pension Credit calculator on GOV.UK here.
Alternatively, pensioners can contact the Pension Credit helpline directly to make a claim on 0800 99 1234 – lines are open 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.
Expert help and advice is also available from: