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DWP Winter Fuel Payment: Millions to be given up to £600 within weeks | Personal Finance | Finance

calico 11/14/2023

Millions of older people will start to receive up to £600 to help with their heating bills within weeks.

As the cost of living crisis continues to grip households across the UK, many will be forced to choose between heating and eating.

But around 11 million pensioners could receive a one-off payment to help towards energy bills.

The DWP is sending out letters this month to eligible people outlining how much they will be paid.

People do not need to apply, instead, they will be contacted if they are eligible.

The GOV.UK website states: “Most payments are made automatically in November or December.”

As the DWP and HMRC roll out the separate £300 cost of living payment for those on means-tested benefits until November 19, the start date of the Winter Fuel Payment hasn’t been officially announced yet.

Eligible people will get a payment between £250 and £600. This includes an extra pensioner cost of living payment of between £150 and £300 similar to last winter’s scheme.

Payments will be made automatically into the same account where the state pension is paid.

The money can be used in any way to help pensioner households, it’s not just for energy bills.

To be eligible, a person must have been born before September 25, 1957 and lived in the UK for at least one day during the week of September 18 to 24, 2023.

If a person does not meet these criteria or if they live abroad, they may need to put in a claim.

The deadline for to make a claim for winter 2023 to 2024 is March 31, 2024.

Britons reaching the current state pension age of 66 after September 25 will have to wait until next year before they come within the eligibility rules.

If an individual has had the payment before, they will need to file a claim unless they have deferred their state pension or moved abroad.

People who claim these means of support do not need to claim: