The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that everyone who made a new claim for Pension Credit by the deadline on December 21, 2024 will receive this year’s Winter Fuel Payment, if their application is successful. However, Pensions Minister Torsten Bell couldn’t give an exact figure on the number of claims still waiting to be processed during the DWP oral questions session in Parliament on Monday.
Following the policy change last year, Winter Fuel Payments are only issued to people over State Pension age, resident in the UK, in receipt of an income-related benefit such as Pension Credit. The DWP recently said that 9.2 million pensioners are no longer eligible for Winter Fuel Payments, including 850,000 in Scotland.
Conservative shadow work and pensions secretary Helen Whately said the Labour Government “doesn’t know” how many pensioners are waiting for their Winter Fuel Payment, asking the DWP: “How many people are still waiting for their Winter Fuel Payment?”
Mr Bell replied: “Everybody who made their claim for Pension Credit before the 21st of December will receive their Winter Fuel Payment when that claim is processed.”
Ms Whately said: “The answer is he doesn’t know. He doesn’t know how many people are waiting for their Winter Fuel Payment. He doesn’t know how many people are stuck in the Pension Credit backlog. He doesn’t know when they’ll hear. He doesn’t know who’s had help from their local council. He doesn’t know how many people who lost their Winter Fuel Payment have ended up in hospital this winter.
“He and his Department have dodged or refused to answer every single one of those questions in recent weeks. So, will he commit to a full review of the Winter Fuel Payment cut so we can get those answers?”
Mr Bell said: “I’ll commit to fighting every day to avoid a repeat of the exercise under the last government where pensioner poverty rose by 300,000, having fallen by a million under the last Labour government. We will make sure that we publish details on the take-up of Pension Credit by the end of February.”
Later in the session, a Labour MP pressed the DWP on whether means-testing the Winter Fuel Payment is “working” as another called for a pensioner poverty taskforce to be set up.
Neil Duncan-Jordan, Labour MP for Poole, said: “Latest figures show that at least 800,000 pensioners are eligible for Pension Credit, but do not claim it. This means they have now also lost out on the Winter Fuel Payment that they previously would have enjoyed. Does the minister think that means-testing is working?”
The Pensions Minister replied: “The statistics (Mr Duncan-Jordan) refers to, relate to previous years, before the recent campaign on take-up has taken place. But he is right to highlight that under the Conservative government, three in 10 eligible pensioners were missing out.”
Rachael Maskell, Labour (Co-op) MP for York Central, said: “Government figures show that an additional 42,500 people claimed Pension Credit, and yet we know this is only just about 5 per cent of all of those eligible who are not claiming it.
“As constituency MPs, we are having to support people who are really struggling with the cold and with their financial balances. Would he think about setting up a pensioner poverty taskforce, so we really can get underneath the issues which are facing older people?”
Mr Bell replied: “It is important, on pensioner poverty specifically, that we do update our understanding of how that has developed, because if we look at the record what we see is that pensioner poverty halved under the last Labour government, but it rose by 300,000 under the Tory government for the last 14 years.”
The automatic payment window for the 2024/25 Winter Fuel Payments closed on January 29, however, Pension Credit claims made before the deadline on December 21, 2024 – which later turns out to be successful – will receive the payment of either £200 or £300, along with any arrears payments once their application has been processed.
The latest data from the DWP shows that in week ending January 25, new claims were taking 45 working days on average to process.
Pension Credit
Older people making a successful new claim for Pension Credit before September this year will qualify for the 2025/26 payment and the higher rate of the devolved Pension Age Winter Hating Payment (Scotland-only).
Pension Credit is the most under-claimed benefit and is specifically aimed at providing additional financial support for older people on a low income – singles and couples. Nearly 1.4 million older people across Great Britain, including more than 125,000 living in Scotland, are currently receiving the means-tested benefit that could provide an average of £4,200 in extra support during the coming months.
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, heating bills and Council Tax.
An award of just £1 per week is enough to unlock other support.
Who can claim Pension Credit?
There are two types of Pension Credit – Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit.
To qualify for Guarantee Pension Credit , you must be State Pension age (66). Your weekly income will need to be less than the minimum amount the UK Government says you need to live on.
This is £218.15 for a single person and £332.95 for a couple – this amount could be higher if you’re disabled, a carer or have certain housing costs.
You can only get Savings Credit if:
- you reached State Pension age before April 6, 2016, or you have a partner who reached State Pension age before this date and was already receiving it
- you have qualifying income of at least £189.80 a week for a single person and £301.22 a week for a couple
How much could you receive from DWP?
Guarantee Credit tops up your weekly income to:
- £218.15 for a single person
- £332.95 for a couple (married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting)
You might be able to get more than this if you’re disabled or a carer, or you have certain housing costs.
Savings Credit can give you up to:
- £17.01 a week for a single person
- £19.04 a week for a couple (married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting).
The exact amount you’ll get depends on your income and savings. Your income includes assumed income from savings and capital over £10,000.
How 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:
More details about claiming Pension Credit can be fond on GOV.UK here.