The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has provided an update on when millions of UK households will receive an additional £300 cost of living payment.
The one-off lump sum will be added to the annual Winter Fuel Payment to help people of State Pension age with higher energy bills. Unlike the £150 Warm Home Discount Scheme and £400 energy rebate, this will be paid directly to claimants and not the energy supplier, the Daily Record reports.
Winter Fuel Payments, including the £300 top-up, will give eligible pensioner households up to £600 this year.
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Previously, the DWP advised these payments would arrive in November and December. However, last week, Minister for Work and Welfare, Victoria Prentis, said this week: “Cost of Living payments are being paid automatically alongside the Winter Fuel Payments from mid-November and should be paid by 13 January 2023.”
Who is eligible?
To be eligible for this year's 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 September 19-25, 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 - find out more here.
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
You may not be eligible 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)
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