DWP winter fuel payments for older people on legacy benefits | Personal finance | Finance

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced that people over state pension age who receive Working Tax or Child Tax Credits will be entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment this year, provided their annual entitlement is at least £26 and includes at least one day in the eligible week of 16-22 September.

To be eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment of £100 to £300, claimants must also have been born on or before 23 September 1958, according to the DWP. Eligible pensioners can expect the payment to be paid directly into their bank account in November or December, and will receive a letter in advance informing them of the amount they will receive.

The DWP further explained: “As tax credits come to an end, most tax credit recipients will receive a notice informing them that they need to claim either Universal Credit or Pension Credit to continue receiving financial support. It is important that they do not do this before they receive the notice as this could impact the level of support they receive.”

In some cases, people living abroad may also be eligible; further details can be found on the official website, the Daily Record reports.

However, you are not entitled if you do not receive any of the specified needs-based benefits:

• Pension credit
• Universal Credit
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income-related unemployment benefit (JSA)
• Income support
• Income tax or child allowance

Under certain conditions, people residing abroad may also be entitled to this.

You are not qualified if you:

How much you could receive

If you live alone

You will receive either:

• £200 if you were born between 23 September 1944 and 22 September 1958
• £300 if you were born before 23 September 1944

If you live with someone

If you and your partner jointly make one of the claims, one of you will receive a payment of the following amount:

• £200 if you were both born between 23 September 1944 and 22 September 1958
• £300 if one or both of you were born before 23 September 1944

If you live in a nursing home

If you are eligible, you will receive either:

• £100 if you were born between 23 September 1944 and 22 September 1958
• £150 if you were born before 23 September 1944

Check if you need to apply

If you are not receiving any of the eligible means-tested benefits, you must apply if any of the following apply:

How to apply

You can apply for the Winter Fuel Payment as follows:

• Contribution – from September 16, 2024
• Telephone – from October 10, 2024

If you receive Universal Credit, you will receive a message in your journal telling you how to claim.

The application deadline for winter 2024/25 is 31 March 2025. Full details of eligibility and payments can be found in the Winter Fuel Payment section on GOV.UK here.

Pension credit

Almost 1.4 million older people across the UK, including more than 125,000 in Scotland, are currently receiving the means-tested benefit.

Some older people believe that because they have no savings or own their own home, they are not entitled to the income-tested support that can also help with housing costs, winter heating allowance and local tax.

Pension Credit tops up weekly income to a guaranteed minimum of £218.15 per week for single pensioners or £332.95 for couples. A payment of just £1 per week is enough to unlock further support.

New Pension Credit claims submitted before 21 December 2024 and subsequently approved will also be eligible for a retrospective Winter Fuel Payment. This is because claims can be made up to three months backdated, extending eligibility to the September qualifying week.

Fastest way to check pension credit eligibility

Older people or their friends and family can quickly check their eligibility and get an estimate of potential benefits by using the online Pension Credit Calculator on GOV.UK here.

Alternatively, pensioners can submit an application directly to the Pension Credit Helpline on 0800 99 1234 – the lines are open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

You can also get competent help and advice from: