Eight million households could be eligible for a £300 cash boost from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Many pensioners will receive the one-off lump sum, which will be added to their annual Winter Fuel Payment over November and December. But to be eligible for the extra support, pensioners need to have met certain conditions in September.
People who will receive this year's Winter Fuel Payment must have been born on or before September 25, 1956 and lived in the UK for at least one day during the week of September 19 to 25, also referred to as the "qualifying week".
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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, the Daily Record reports.
DWP guidance states that most payments are made automatically in November or December, but the money should be paid by January 13, 2023 at the latest. The only way to know if you have received it, is to check your account.
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 either 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.
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
Amounts shown in all examples are the total payments.
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 and live with someone who gets 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: £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, 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
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