THOUSANDS of pensioners are being urged to look out for an exact code when their winter fuel payment lands in accounts within weeks.
The winter fuel payment, which is worth up to £300, is made to pensioners to help them with the cost of energy bills during the colder months.
If you’re eligible, you’ll get a letter in October or November telling you how much you will receive.
Payments are then made automatically in November or December.
The winter fuel payment used to be available to anyone of state pension age, currently 66, but has been scrapped for millions after the government changed the eligibility criteria.
Those still eligible for the winter fuel payment should look out for a particular code in their bank statement to see if the payment has been made.
For those living in England and Wales, the payment will show up as the customer’s National Insurance (NI) number followed by “DWP WFP”.
For those in Northern Ireland it will show up as the person’s NI number followed by “DFC WFP”.
So, if you live in England and your NI number is QQ123456B the payment would show up as QQ123456B DWP WFP.
If you are expecting a winter fuel payment, make sure you are checking your bank account to see if it is has been made before contacting the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
What is the winter fuel payment and who is eligible?
The winter fuel payment is made to state pensioners on certain government benefits to cover the cost of energy bills over the colder months.
Households tend to use more energy over the winter because it’s darker and colder so people blast up their heating.
The payment is usually made in November or December and is automatic meaning you don’t have to apply.
It used to be that those on Universal Credit with a joint claim where one member was over the state pension age had to apply to receive the payment, but this cohort will be paid automatically this year.
To qualify for this year’s payment, you need to be of state pension age and receiving one of the following benefits:
- 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 need to have an active claim for the above benefits during the “qualifying week” – this runs from September 16 to 22 this year.
You only need to apply for the winter fuel payment this year if:
- you moved to an eligible country before January 1, 2021
- you were born before September 23, 1958
- you have a genuine and sufficient link to the UK – this can include having lived or worked in the UK and having family in the UK
To claim by post, you’ll need to fill in the winter fuel payment claim form and post it to the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.
This will be available at www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/how-to-claim from September 30.
Households will also be able to claim by phone from October 28. The number to call is 0800 731 0160.
The deadline to claim for this winter is March 31, 2025.
Avoid missing out on the winter fuel payment
There are hundreds of thousands eligible for Pension Credit that haven’t yet made a claim which will qualify them for the winter fuel payment.
Claims on the benefit can be backdated too, meaning you don’t have to make a claim until December 21 to get the up to £300 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 the “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 number of benefits including Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance or the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
You might also qualify for the “savings credit” part of Pension Credit if you reached the state pension age before April 6, 2016, and saved some money for retirement, for example into a personal or workplace pension.
How much is the payment?
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 those eligible aged 66 to 79 or £300 for eligible households with someone aged 80 or over.
That means you could receive up to £300 in free cash depending on your circumstances.
The letter you are sent in October or November will tell you how much you’ll get and 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.
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