Most pensioners should have received up to £600 towards their energy bills by now, as the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) continues to pay out the money to more than 11.6 million people.
Winter Fuel Payments – boosted this year by an additional £300 per household Pensioner Cost of Living payment – have been made to over 99% of eligible pensioners across the UK this winter, including nearly 500,000 in the North East. The rollout of this year's payments started last month. Last year, 497,374 North East pensioners received the extra money from the Winter Fuel Payment.
The full amount paid depends on your circumstances. The overwhelming majority of Winter Fuel Payments are paid automatically but some people need to make a claim, such as those who qualify but do not receive benefits or the State Pension and have never previously received a Winter Fuel Payment. The DWP has said that all payments should be made by January 13.
