Pensioners who have yet to receive a Winter Fuel Payment worth up to £600 have just a few days left to put in a claim.
Most people get the Winter Fuel Payment automatically if they are eligible, usually because they are receiving certain benefits.
But some households will need to actively claim for the money - and the deadline to do this is March 31.
The Winter Fuel Payment is worth up to £300 normally, with how much you receive dependent on your age and living arrangements.
This year, eligible recipients will also get an extra £300 on top through the Pensioner Cost of Living payment - meaning some people will get up to £600.
You can see how much Winter Fuel Payment you could get here.
If you normally receive the Winter Fuel Payment, you will automatically get the Pensioner Cost of Living payment as well.
Who is eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment?
You could be eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment if you were born on or before September 25, 1956, and you lived in the UK for at least one day in the qualifying week.
The qualifying week for winter 2022/23 was between 19 and 25 September 2022.
You might still get the payment if you live outside the UK if:
- You live in Switzerland or a European Economic Area (EEA) country
- You have "a genuine and sufficient" link to the UK - this can include having lived or worked in the UK, and having family in the UK
Those who receive the following benefits should have received their Winter Fuel Payment automatically:
State Pension
Pension Credit
Attendance Allowance
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
Carers Allowance
Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
Income Support
income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
awards from the War Pensions Scheme
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
Incapacity Benefit
Industrial Death Benefit
You won't be eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment 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 or Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Who needs to claim the Winter Fuel Payment
If you do not get any of the benefits listed above, you need to claim for your Winter Fuel Payment if either of the following apply:
You have never received the Winter Fuel Payment before
You have deferred your State Pension since your last Winter Fuel Payment
The Gov.uk website says you might also need to claim if you live abroad, even if you do get one of these benefits.
You only need to claim Winter Fuel Payment if you’ve not received it since you moved abroad.
To put in a claim, you can contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre on 0800 731 0160, or fill out the form on the Gov.uk website.
You can apply by post as well, although with the deadline so near, there is no guarantee it will reach the Winter Fuel Payment Centre in time.
