The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has updated online guidance to make it easier for pensioners to find out who qualify for the cost of living payment.
A one-off sum of £300 will be issued as the pensioner cost of living payment, and will be given on top of the inter fuel payment which is due to be received over November and December.
However, to be eligible for the extra financial support, as the Daily Record reports,need to meet specific requirements. 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’.
READ MORE- DVSA issues urgent driving test update ahead of Queen's funeral on Monday
If you do not meet either of these 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.
Payments are made automatically in November or December, with the money paid by January 13, 2023 at the very latest. It will be paid into your bank account.
This comes as energy bills are set to soar with the price cap being confirmed at £2,500, following Liz Truss' energy price guarantee. That price is the average amount the typical household will pay per year.
The energy price guarantee is frozen for two years in a bid to tackle rising gas wholesale prices.
The Winter Fuel Payment, including the extra pensioner cost of living payment, is not taxable and does not affect eligibility for other benefits. However, the full amount you will get for winter 2022 to 2023 depends on your circumstances.
In the latest update the DWP has explained the payment amount for different household situations, including if someone lives on their own, with a partner over or under 80, or whether either of them receive other benefits like Pension Credit, income based Jobseeker's Allowance, income related Employment and Support Allowance or Income support.
£150 disability cost of living payment
People over State Pension age may also be eligible for the £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment which will be paid to six million people from September 20, 2022.
You will automatically qualify 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
You must have been receiving payment (or later receive a payment) of one of these qualifying benefits on May 25, 2022, to get the £150.
Winter Fuel Payment rates 2022/23
The 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 and live with someone 80 or over who also qualifies
- Born between September 25, 1942 and September 25, 1956: £250
- Born on or before September 25, 1942: £300
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 get certain benefits
Your 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
A breakdown of each payment you could receive if you get one of the benefits above are as followed.
You qualify, get one of the benefits above 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 a partner who qualifies, and either 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 your partner) who qualifies, and either 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
As mentioned earlier in this article, you usually 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
You can claim the Winter Fuel Payment by phone 0800 731 0160 - lines are open Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm or post. If you choose to post, you need to fill in a Winter Fuel Payment claim form for UK residents - this can be found on GOV.UK here.
Who is not eligible for 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)
READ NEXT:
Queen Elizabeth funeral: Zara, Primark, Ikea among major stores and supermarkets to shut
Drivers issued MOT warning over removing common item from car or risk failing test
Drivers issued update over fuel prices as inflation rate drops below 10 per cent
Martin Lewis fan praises £47 product and say they 'haven't used heating' since
What is a meteor as Glasgow residents spot fireball shooting in sky last night
