The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued an update about its £300 Cost of Living and Winter Fuel payments.
The support, worth a total of £3.6 billion, is part of a package to help people with the cost of heating their homes this winter. The DWP confirmed on Tuesday (December 20) that 11.6 million payments have now been made to pensioners across the UK so far.
Most of the payments, worth up to £600 per household, have landed in bank accounts automatically. But the payments are still being made until January, so if yours hasn't arrived yet then don't panic.
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However, the DWP has advised people to contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre online or by phone if they have not received their payment by January 13, 2023. Some people might need to make a claim for their Winter Fuel Payment, including those who qualify but do not receive benefits of the State pension.
Those who need to make a claim have until March 31, 2023, to do so, with further information on who needs to make a claim available on the GOV.UK Winter Fuel Payment page.
On bank statements, people should look out for the reference beginning with the customer’s National Insurance number followed by ‘DWP WFP’ for people in Great Britain, or ‘DFC WFP’ for people in Northern Ireland. Pensioners are being asked to double check their bank statements for this reference number before contacting DWP.
Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride said: "As the cold weather bites, it is good to be able to confirm that over 99 percent of eligible pensioners have already received as much as £600 to help with their energy bills this winter. These payments are just one part of the wider support package we are delivering to help with rising bills, with additional help to follow next year – including the biggest State Pension increase in history.”
Further cost of living support to be paid next year was recently announced by the Chancellor. Payments will include a further £300 for pensioner households, up to £900 for households on means-tested benefits and £150 for those on eligible disability benefits.
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