Exact date within days households can make a claim to get £300 winter fuel payment

THOUSANDS of households will be able to claim to get the £300 winter fuel payment within just days.

Cuts made by Chancellor Rachel Reeves mean that 10million pensioners will no longer be eligible for benefit worth up to £300 this winter.

PA

The majority of Brits think Winter Fuel Payments should be available to all if they need them, according to a new study[/caption]

The energy bill help was previously available to everyone aged above 66.

However, the cash is now only be given to retirees on pension credit, or other means-tested benefits, including Income Support and Universal Credit.

To qualify for this year’s winter fuel payment, you must have been claiming pension credit or any of the benefits listed above during the qualifying week.

This will take place between September 16 and 22.

The claim form that allows certain eligible households to apply for the winter fuel payment by post will also be available from Monday, September 16.

Those wishing to apply for support by phone can do so from Thursday, October 10.

However, it’s important to recognise that not everyone will need to apply for the winter fuel payment.

Most households will receive the winter fuel payment automatically and won’t need to apply.

However, those who have a joint claim to Universal Credit where one member is over the state pension age will need to.

To claim by post, you’ll need to fill in the claim form.

The deadline to claim for this winter is March 31, 2025.

HOW MUCH YOU’LL GET

Payments last year were worth between £300 and £600, depending on your specific circumstances.

This is because the amount included a “Pensioner Cost of Living Payment” – between £150 and £300. 

However, this year, it will be worth £200 for eligible households or £300 for eligible households with someone aged over 80.

That means you could receive up to £300 in free cash depending on your circumstances.

Most payments are made automatically in November or December.

You’ll get a letter telling you:

• How much you’ll get
• Which bank account it will be paid into

If you do not get a letter or the money has not been paid into your account by January 29, 2025, you must contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre on 0800 731 0160.

AVOID MISSING OUT

Over 800,000 households are eligible for pension credit but aren’t claiming the benefit.

This also means they risk missing out on this year’s winter fuel payment.

Pension Credit tops up your weekly income to £218.15 if you are single or to £332.95 if you have a partner.

This is known as “guarantee credit”.

If your income is lower than this, you’re very likely to be eligible for the benefit.

However, if your income is slightly higher, you might still be eligible for pension credit if you have a disability, you care for someone, you have savings or you have housing costs.

You could get an extra £81.50 a week if you have a disability or claim any of the following:

• Attendance allowance
• The middle or highest rate from the care component of disability living allowance (DLA)
• The daily living component of personal independence payment (PIP)
• Armed forces independence payment
• The daily living component of adult disability payment (ADP) at the standard or enhanced rate.

You could get the “savings credit” part of pension credit if both of the following apply:

• You reached State Pension age before April 6, 2016
• You saved some money for retirement, for example, a personal or workplace pension

This part of pension credit is worth £17.01 for single people or £19.04 for couples.

It’s wise to put in an application as soon as possible, as the DWP can take up to two months to process new claims.

However, new claims for pension credit can be backdated by three months.

This means that the absolute deadline to claim the benefit and qualify for this year’s winter fuel payment is December 21.

If you fail to apply for the benefit before this date, you won’t qualify for this year’s £300 winter fuel payment.