December is never an easy month, as cold weather and Christmas combine to cripple our finances.
And many state pensioners this year are missing out on a £300 Winter Fuel Payment, while no state pensioners at all will get a £300 Cost of Living payment which had been paid out in the last two years.
But there are still as many as £685 in cash payments available to either all or some pensioners in December on these key dates.
DWP Christmas bonus – December 1
From yesterday (December 1), the DWP is sending out a Christmas bonus. There have been widespread calls for this amount to be increased, it’s still just £10, and has been set at that amount since the 1970s.
The benefit is paid to pensioners and to those on various other DWP benefits such as Carer’s Allowance, Pension Credit, Attendance Allowance and PIP.
It will show up in your account as ‘DWP XB’.
Winter Fuel Payments – December 1
Winter Fuel Payments began to be paid in November but this will continue in December. Though the government scrapped universal Winter Fuel Payments this year, those who are still eligible will be able to claim either £200 if under 75 or £300 if over 75.
Now, you need to also claim a qualifying benefit such as Pension Credit in order to still receive the money. If you haven’t yet done this, there is still time to apply and then backdate your claim to September, which is when the ‘qualifying week’ was. But time is rapidly running out and you’ll need to do this no later than December 21.
Cold Weather Payments – December 1
Also from today, Cold Weather Payments of up to £25 per household per week will be sent out.
To get the money, you need to be on certain qualifying benefits such as Pension Credit, Income Support, income based Jobseekers Allowance (JSA), Universal Credit or Support For Mortgage Interest.
Not only this, but the benefit is also dependent on the temperature where you live. You will get paid £25 for each seven-day period in which the weather hits 0C in your area.
The benefit is paid every seven days, so you could be paid £25 every week from now until March 31 if the weather stays at 0C.
Warm Home Discount – December 1
Also available throughout December, the £150 Warm Homes Discount sees £150 taken off your energy bills directly from your supplier.
Those who are on the ‘guarantee element’ of Pension Credit will be eligible, as well as those on low incomes.
If you receive Pension Credit and your name is on the bill from your energy supplier, you should receive the 20 percent discount automatically as long as your supplier is signed up to the scheme.
If you’re not sure, call 0800 030 9322 to check.
December 10 – £200 from Lloyds
There are just eight more days to claim a £200 switching bonus from Lloyds. The bank’s switching offer ends on December 10, and the money is paid within 10 days of making the switch and fulfilling the initial eligibility criteria, so you’ll get the money in time for Christmas.
December 24 and December 31 – State pension benefits payments date change
This isn’t included in the headline £385 figure as it’s the same benefit as you will always receive, but it’s worth noting the possible date change.
Most benefits will be paid as normal in December but if your normal payment date would fall on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day, this will be pulled back a day until December 24 or 31 respectively.
