Eligible people are being urged to check to make sure they've received a £600 extra winter payment from the Department for Work and Pensions. Around 11million pensioners across the UK were in line for a Winter Fuel Payment and Pensioner Cost of Living Payment.
The combination was worth up to £600 per household. It was designed to help older people with their bills.
These payments were due to have been made by January 13. With that in mind, eligible people should check to make sure the money has arrived in their bank accounts. They will show on statements with a reference that starts with the customer's National Insurance number, followed by 'DWP WFP' for those in Great Britain, or 'DFC WFP' for those in Northern Ireland, reports the M.E.N.
Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride said: "As the cold weather bites, it is good to be able to confirm that over 99% 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."
Pensioners who have not yet received the payments but are expecting it should contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre online or by telephone. Most payments are made automatically, however, some may also need to make a claim such as those who qualify but do not receive benefits or the State Pension and haven't previously received a Winter Fuel Payment before.
Winter Fuel Payments were boosted this year by an additional £300 per households Pensioner Cost of Living payment as part of a government scheme to increase support for pensioners across the country. An additional £300 for pensioner households will be paid next year, according to the government.
