Three reasons why you could be asked to pay back Winter Fuel Payment by DWP – and how to avoid falling foul of rules
HOUSEHOLDS eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment may have to pay some or all of it back for three particular reasons.
The up to £300 payment is being made to those on certain benefits this winter to cover the extra cost of energy over the colder months.
It was previously available to all state pensioners but the Government has now made the annual payment means-tested.
The changes by Chancellor Rachel Reeves mean that around 10million aged 66 or over will no longer receive the benefit.
But there may be other circumstances where you receive the Winter Fuel Payment this financial year and have to repay some or all of it back to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
The Government’s guidance states that you have to pay it back if you did not report a change of circumstances straight away.
For example, if you moved address or stopped receiving a benefit that qualified you for the payment.
You could also be docked the payment if you gave the wrong information out in your application such as the incorrect age.
Or, you may have to pay it back if you were overpaid by the DWP by mistake.
It’s crucial that you tell the DWP of any changes in your personal circumstances and make sure you enter your personal details correctly as it can impact your eligibility for the Winter Fuel Payment.
You can do this by contacting the Winter Fuel Payment Centre on 0800 731 0160 or +44 (0)191 218 7777 if you’re outside the UK.
Who is eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment?
It is worth taking note of the eligibility criteria for this year’s Winter Fuel Payment as if a change in circumstances means you fall outside of it, you will need to contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.
You qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment for Winter 24/25 if you were born before September 23, 1958.
If you live alone and were born between September 23, 1944, and September 22, 1958 you will get £200.
You will receive £300 if you were born before September 23, 1944.
If you and your partner jointly claim any of the benefits, one of you will get a payment of either:
- £200 if one or both of you were born between September 23 1944 and September 22 1958
- £300 if one or both of you were born before September 23 1944
You must also live in England or Wales and get one of the following:
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income Support
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
You’ll also need to have been getting a benefit during the qualifying week of September 16 to 22, 2024.
In some circumstances, you might be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment if you live abroad, for example if you live in:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- Germany
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Sweden
- Switzerland
You aren’t eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment if you live in Scotland or have been in hospital getting free treatment for more than a year.
You also don’t qualify if were in prison for the whole of the week of September 16 to 22, 2024, or you were living in a care home for the from June 24 to September 22, 2024.
You will qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment if you have lived in a care home for less than 13 weeks including the week of September 16 to 22, 2024, though.
Hundreds of thousands of households are not claiming Pension Credit which could qualify them for this year’s Winter Fuel Payment.
You can use this benefits checker made in partnership with poverty charity Turn2Us to see if you’re eligible.
Are you missing out on benefits?
YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to
Charity Turn2Us’ benefits calculator works out what you could get.
Entitledto’s free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit.
MoneySavingExpert.com and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto’s data.
You can use Policy in Practice’s calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you’ll have left over each month after paying for housing costs.
Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
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