The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) recently updated online guidance to make it simpler for eight million pensioner households to find out if they are eligible for a £300 cost of living payment this winter. This one-off lump sum will be added to their annual Winter Fuel Payment, due to be paid over November and December, but to be eligible for the extra financial support pensioners need to meet certain conditions.
To be eligible for this year's Winter Fuel Payment, you must have been born on or before September 25, 1956 and lived in the UK for at least one day during the week of 19 to 25 September 2022 - this is called the ‘qualifying week’.
If you do not meet either of these qualifying criteria, or if you live abroad, you may need to make a claim. If you’ve had a Winter Fuel Payment before, you do not need to claim again unless you’ve deferred your State Pension or moved abroad - find out more here.
