Pensioners are due to get additional financial support from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in the coming months.
The UK Government department has recently issued an update to its online guidelines, so that people can more easily find out whether they qualify for the £300 Pensioner Cost of Living Payment.
The one-off payment will be paid alongside the Winter Fuel Payment, which will be delivered this November and December. In order to qualify for the money, you need to have been born before September 25, 1956, and have been living in the UK during the 'qualifying week' of 19 to 25 September 2022.
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While most eligible people will receive the payment automatically, those who do not meet both of these criteria or who live abroad may need to make a claim, as reported by the Daily Record.
The majority of payments will be made in November and December, with January 13 being the latest date that it will be issued according to the DWP.
The DWP has also revealed the payment amount for many common household scenarios, such as people who live on their own, and people who live with a partner either over or under 80 years old.
Neither the Winter Fuel Payment or the additional Pensioner Cost of Living Payment are taxable, and do not affect your eligibility for other benefits.
Who does not qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment
You are not eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment if you:
- Have been in hospital receiving free treatment for over one year
- Require permission to come into the UK or your granted leave prevents you from claiming public funds
- Were imprisoned the whole week of 19 to 25 September 2022
- Resided in a care home for the whole period of 27 June to 25 September 2022 and got Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) or income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Winter Fuel Payment rates 2022/23
See below for a roundup of the payment rates depending on your circumstance. More information can be found on GOV.UK here.
You qualify and live alone (or none of the people you live with qualify)
- Born between September 25, 1942 and September 25, 1956: £500
- Born on or before September 25, 1942: £600
You qualify and live with someone under 80 who also qualifies
- Born between September 25, 1942 and September 25, 1956: £250
- Born on or before September 25, 1942: £350
You qualify and live with someone 80 or over who also qualifies
- Born between September 25, 1942 and September 25, 1956: £250
- Born on or before September 25, 1942: £300
You qualify, live in a care home and do not get certain benefits
Benefits - Pension Credit, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Income Support
- Born between September 25, 1942 and September 25, 1956: £250
- Born on or before September 25, 1942: £300
Winter fuel payments if you get certain benefits
Your payment may change if either you or your partner receives any of the following:
- Pension Credit
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support
You qualify, get one of the benefits and live alone (or none of the people you live with qualify)
- Born between September 25, 1942 and September 25, 1956: £500
- Born on or before September 25, 1942: £600
You qualify and live with a partner who qualifies, and either of you gets one of the benefits
- Born between September 25, 1942 and September 25, 1956: £500 - only one of you will get the payment
- Born on or before September 25, 1942: £600 - only one of you will get the payment
You qualify and live with someone (not your partner) who qualifies, and either of you gets one of the benefits
- Born between September 25, 1942 and September 25, 1956: £500 - you will both get the payment
- Born on or before September 25, 1942: £600 - you will both get the payment
You qualify, live in a care home and get one of the benefits
- Born between September 25, 1942 and September 25, 1956: Nil
- Born on or before September 25, 1942: Nil
How to claim
As mentioned earlier in this article, you usually do not need to claim Winter Fuel Payment as it is paid automatically to eligible claimants.
If you have not had a Winter Fuel Payment before, you only need to claim if any of the following apply:
- you do not get benefits or a State Pension
- you get an Adult Disability Payment from the Scottish Government
- you only get Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, Child Benefit or Universal Credit
- you get benefits or a State Pension but live in Switzerland or an EEA country
If you have received a Winter Fuel Payment before, you only need to claim if since your last payment you have either:
- deferred your State Pension
- moved to Switzerland or an EEA country
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