Finance guru Martin Lewis has issued an urgent warning to around 700,000 individuals over the State Pension age regarding this year’s Winter Fuel Payment. In his plea, he urges the public to lend a hand to elderly friends, family members, or neighbours to ensure they apply for Pension Credit before the looming deadline of midnight on Saturday, December 21.
The alert stresses that phone applications must be made even earlier, by Friday, December 20, due to Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) helplines being closed during the weekend. Those who establish their entitlement to Pension Credit in time may also qualify for a backdated Winter Fuel Payment ranging between £200 to £300.
Martin Lewis, in the recent newsletter from MoneySavingExpert.com (MSE.com), advises recipients: “Deadline to claim and get Winter Fuel Payment (WFP) is this Fri 20 Dec by phone, or Sat online. If you apply by then and are eligible for Pension Credit, you can still get this year’s WFP.”
He further clarifies: “Though it’s actually a backdated payment, so you had to have been eligible for Pension Credit in September (for most, little will have changed so that’s not an issue).”
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that the average application time for Pension Credit is a mere 16 minutes, as reported by Martin Lewis. However, he cautioned that processing could take weeks, but backdated payments will be made, reports the Daily Record.
The financial guru also detailed who is likely to qualify for Pension Credit and what is considered income when applications are assessed. He clarified that savings below £10,000 do not impact applications, but every £500 above this threshold is counted as income.
Even a modest award of just £1 per week can trigger additional support. Here’s a quick rundown of the benefit, including eligibility, how to apply, potential amounts you could receive, and where to find assistance with the application process. To verify eligibility for Pension Credit, older individuals or their friends and family can utilise the online Pension Credit calculator on the GOV. UK website.
Alternatively, pensioners can directly reach out to the Pension Credit helpline to make a claim on 0800 99 1234 – lines are open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. It’s vital to remember that phone line opening hours will change over the festive fortnight.
