The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued an update regarding the £300 cost of living payment this winter.
The UK Government department will add the one-off cash boost onto the Winter Fuel Payment. More than 8 million pensioners across Scotland and the UK will receive the money to help them deal with the cost of living crisis.
As reported by the Daily Record, the one-off payment will be transferred directly to eligible claimants. Alongside the Winter Fuel Payment, pensioners could receive up to £600 to help with energy bills this winter.
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While the DWP previously stated that payments would be issued in November and December, Minister for Work and Welfare Victoria Prentis said this week: “Cost of living payments are being paid automatically alongside the Winter Fuel Payments from mid-November and should be paid by 13 January 2023.”
Am I eligible for the £300 pensioner cost of living payment?
To qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment, you need to have been born on or before September 25, 1956, and resided in the UK one or more days during the qualifying week of September 19 to 25.
If you do not meet either of these criteria, or you live out of the UK, you may have to make a claim manually. If you have received a Winter Fuel Payment before, you do not need to make a new claim unless you have deferred your State Pension or moved abroad.
The DWP has also explained the payment amounts for a number of different possible household situations, including scenarios in which somebody lives on their own, with a partner over or under 80, or whether either of them receive other benefits such as Pension Credit.
The Winter Fuel Payment, as well as the £300 cost of living payment, is not taxable and will not impact your eligibility for other benefits. However, the exact amount you receive will depend on your individual circumstances.
Who is not eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment
You will not get the Winter Fuel Payment if you:
- Are in hospital receiving free treatment for over a year
- Require permission to come into the UK and your granted leave states that you are unable claim public funds
- Were imprisoned for the entire week from 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
Amounts shown in all examples are the total payments, full details of payments 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 be different if you or your partner gets one of the following benefits:
- 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
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
Claiming by phone or post
If you need to claim, you can claim Winter Fuel Payment by phone or by post.
Claim for the first time by phone
Call the Winter Fuel Payment Centre to claim by phone on 0800 731 0160 - lines are open Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm.
Claim for the first time by post
You need to fill in a Winter Fuel Payment claim form for UK residents - this can be found on GOV.UK here.
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