The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has given a new update on when over eight million elderly households will receive a £300 payment this winter.
The one-off cost of living cash boost will be added to the Winter Fuel Payment this year to help pensioners with higher energy bills.
The Daily Record reports that this payment will be added automatically to claimants accounts, and not to the energy supplier - unlike the £150 Warm Home scheme and the £400 energy rebate. The Winter Fuel Payment, which now includes the £300 top-up, will give those eligible up to £600 this winter to help with the cost of living crisis.
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Previous advice from the DWP said that these payments will arrive between November and December, bit the Minister for Work and Welfare, Victoria Prentis, advised 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.”
Read on below to find out who is eligible for the top-up, who will be paid what and how to claim the money.
Who is eligible for the £300 cost of living payment?
In order to be eligible for the extra £300 cost of living payment, you must have:
- been born on or before September 25, 1956
- lived in the UK for at least one day during the week of September 19 to 25 2022 - also known as the qualifying week
It will be paid automatically if you meet this criteria. However, if you did not meet either rule, or live abroad, you may need to make a claim.
If you have had a Winter Fuel Payment previously, you don't need to claim again unless you have deferred your State Pension or moved abroad.
The DWP has also revealed the payment amounts for several scenarios, including:
- if someone lives on their own, or with a partner over or under 80
- whether a partner receives other benefits
These other benefits include Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseekers Allowance (JSA), and income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). The Winter Fuel Payment, including the extra cost of living payment, is not taxable and will not affect eligibility for other benefits.
However, the full amount you may receive for winter 2022 to 2023 depends purely on your circumstances.
Who is not eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment?
You will not qualify 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 (JSA) or income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
£150 Disability Cost of Living Payment
Those over the State Pension age may also be eligible for the £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment. This cash boost has now been paid to almost six million claimants UK-wide.
DWP is continuing to make these payments to eligible claimants. If you believe you are eligible but have still to receive payment, you can report the money missing on the GOV.UK website here.
You should have automatically qualified for the £150 payment if you are getting any award level for one of the following:
- Attendance Allowance
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance for adults
- Personal Independence Payment
- Adult Disability Payment
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- War Pension Mobility Supplement
Eligible claimants must have been receiving a payment (or later receive a payment) of one of the above benefits on May 25, 2022, to get the £150.
How much could I be paid?
The DWP has updated 2022's payment details to include the extra £300, and clarified how much eligible claimants will get, which depends on household circumstances. 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, 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 do get certain benefits
Your Winter Fuel 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 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 one 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 a partner) and either one 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 the payment
Typically, you 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
If you need to claim, you can by phone or by post. You can call the Winter Fuel Payment Centre to claim by phone on 0800 731 0160.
Phonelines are open Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm. For claiming by post, you will need to fill in a Winter Fuel Payment claim form for UK residents.
This can be found on the GOV.UK website here.
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