Help with rising costs is always welcome. As energy and food bills remain high, government assistance for some is on the cards with millions of pensioners across the UK set to receive an extra £600 this winter from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
The free additional financial assistance is made up of the annual Winter Fuel Payment, which is worth up to £300 circumstantially, as well as £300 pensioner cost of living top up payment. It is understood that in excess of 11 million people across the United Kingdom received the support over the 2022/23 winter period.
For the winter of 2023/2024, Winter Fuel Payments will be available again, reported the Mirror. So that means pensioner cost of living payments will, once again, be paid. As spring has only just sprung, the payments are still a long way off but here's what we know so far.
When will the payments be made?
The DWP has not yet given an exact date when households can expect the winter cost of the living support to land in their bank accounts. However, last year, most people received the cash automatically in November or December. Some people on the other hand have to apply, with the deadline to do so usually falling in the following March.
Who gets the Winter Fuel Payment
You can get a Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2023 to 2024 if you were born before September 24, 1957. You also need to have lived in the UK for at least one day in the qualifying week. The qualifying week is normally the week beginning from the third Monday in September. You might still get the payment if you live outside the UK if:
You live in Switzerland or a European Economic Area (EEA) country
You have "a genuine and sufficient" link to the UK - this can include having lived or worked in the UK, and having family in the UK
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Those who receive the following benefits should have received their Winter Fuel Payment automatically:
State Pension
Pension Credit
Attendance Allowance
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
Carers Allowance
Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
Income Support
income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
awards from the War Pensions Scheme
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
Incapacity Benefit
Industrial Death Benefit
Who won't get a payment?
You won't be eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment if you:
Are in hospital getting free treatment for more than a year
Need permission to enter the UK and your granted leave states that you cannot claim public funds
Were in prison for the whole week from 19 to 25 September 2022
Lived in a care home for the whole time from 27 June to 25 September 2022, and got Pension Credit, Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Not everyone will receive the full £300 from the Winter Fuel Payment. For example, your payment might be smaller if you qualify and live in a care home.
Who has to claim the Winter Fuel Payment?
Some people won't get the payment automatically. If you do not get any of the benefits listed above, you will likely need to claim for your Winter Fuel Payment later this year if either of the following apply:
You have never received the Winter Fuel Payment before
You have deferred your State Pension since your last Winter Fuel Payment
The Gov.uk website says you might also need to claim if you live abroad, even if you do get one of these benefits. You only need to claim Winter Fuel Payment if you’ve not received it since you moved abroad.
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