The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has explained why it is not policy to give older people a pro rata payment from the annual Winter Fuel Payment, because they reach State Pension age - one of the key eligibility components - after the qualifying week in September.
To be eligible for this year's Winter Fuel Payment, which includes the £300 pensioner cost of living payment, a person must have been born on or before September 25, 1956 and have lived in the UK for at least one day during the week of September 19 - 25, 2022 - this is determined to be 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 for the benefit which provides additional support during the colder months.
Labour MP, Rachael Maskell, asked the DWP earlier this week why a pro rata payment policy was not in place.
DWP Minister, Laura Trott MP, explained how over 11 million Winter Fuel Payments are made every year and that having a qualifying deadline allows the Department time to make the necessary eligibility checks.
Ms Trott said: “Having a qualifying deadline for Winter Fuel Payments and other pension-related benefits allows the department time to undertake the required checks on entitlement, calculate an individual’s entitlement, issue notifications and commence making payments.”
She added: “There are no plans to introduce pro rata payments.”
What is the Winter Fuel Payment?
Winter Fuel Payments were introduced in 1997 to help State Pension aged people pay their heating bills. It is an annual tax-free payment of between £100 and £300, to those eligible, to help meet the costs of heating their homes in winter.
This year’s payments are being topped up with a £300 pensioner cost of living payment which means eligible households will receive up to £600 this winter.
DWP guidance on GOV.UK states that most payments are made automatically in November or December, but the money should be paid by January 13, 2023 at the latest.
It also recently advised not to chase missing payments until the January 13, 2022 deadline has passed as they will not be able to deal with queries before then.
The DWP has also clarified the payment amounts for several household scenarios including where someone lives on their own, with a partner over or under 80, or whether wither of them receive other benefits. These include Pension Credit, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Income Support.
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.
Who is not eligible for a 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)
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 has updated this year’s 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.
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