As the days are getting colder, more people are deliberating about when to switch their heating on. To protect the more vulnerable members of society, the government gives payments to pensioners to help with heating bills. The Winter Fuel Payments are issued by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and most people will get them automatically.
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The payments started in October 2023, and you should get a letter to confirm your eligibility by January 26, 2023. Here’s what to do if you think you should have received the money but are yet to get a payment or a letter.
What to do to claim your Winter Fuel Payment
You should receive a letter by January 26 telling you how much money you will get and which bank account it will be paid into. This is usually the same account used for your State Pension or other benefits. GOV.UK states:
If you do not get a letter or the money has not been paid into your account by 26 January 2024, contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.
The deadline to contact them is 31 March 2024. You can get in touch by phone on 0800 731 0160 or by post. You will need your National Insurance number to hand, as well as your bank details and, if applicable, the date of your marriage or civil partnership.
Who is eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment?
If you were born before September 25, 1957, you are eligible. However, if any of the following applies, you will not receive the payment:
- You have been getting free treatment in hospital for more than a year
- You need permission to enter the UK and your granted leave says you cannot claim public funds
- You were in prison for the whole of the week of September 18 to September 24, 2023
- You lived in a care home from June 26 to September 24, 2023
The money will appear in your bank account with a reference that starts with your national insurance number followed by ‘DWP WFP’.
Though the vast majority of eligible pensioners will receive the payment automatically, some will still need to actively claim it.
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Sources used:
Express: DWP warning to pensioners to act fast if they want extra £600 in bank account
The Standard: Who is eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment, how much is it and when is it paid?
