A top energy expert is warning that “a few thousand” people over State Pension age only have until the end of this week to claim winter heating bill help, worth up to £600. Malcolm Grimston, Senior research fellow for Energy Policy and Technology at Imperial College London, said that millions of pensioners have already received the payment automatically, but two specific groups may not - and they need to make a claim before March 31, 2023.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) confirmed in December that 11.6million Winter Fuel Payments for 2022/23 - worth up to £300, along with pensioner cost of living payments also worth up to £300, have already been made to older people across the country, including 973,604 living in Scotland.
DWP has also previously said that some people need to make a claim, such as those who qualify but do not receive benefits or the State Pension and have never previously received a Winter Fuel Payment.
Mr Grimston told GB News: “The payment has gone to around 11.5million people and there’s a few thousand it hasn’t gone to automatically.
“It’s basically the people who aren’t on a State Pension for some reason but have reached pensionable age or who have deferred their State Pension and who haven’t had the payment before.
“If you had it last year, you’ll have no problem but if you’re in those groups you then have to specifically apply. So, a relatively small number of people but obviously important to them.”
Pensioners who have moved abroad may also be eligible, but will need to make a claim if they have never claimed the contributory benefit before.
To be eligible for the 2022/23 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 did 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.
People who need to make a claim have until March 31, 2023 to do so - full details on how to do this can be found on GOV.UK here.
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. Below is a full guide to eligibility and payments, depending on your circumstances.
Who is not eligible for Winter Fuel Payment 2022/23
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)
How much you could be paid
The Winter Fuel Payment, including the extra £300 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.
DWP updated 2022/23 payment details to include the £300 payment and clarified who is eligible and how much you will get, depending on your household circumstances.
Winter Fuel Payment rates 2022/23
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
You qualify, get one of the benefits 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
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
Claiming by phone or post
If you need to claim, you can claim Winter Fuel Payment by phone or by post.
Claim for the first time by phone
Call the Winter Fuel Payment Centre to claim by phone on 0800 731 0160 - lines are open Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm.
Claim for the first time by post
You need to fill in a Winter Fuel Payment claim form for UK residents - this can be found on GOV.UK here.
To keep up to date with the latest cost of living news, join our Money Saving Scotland Facebook page here, follow us on Twitter @Record_Money, or subscribe to our newsletter which goes out Monday to Friday - sign up here.
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