How much is the winter fuel payment and who can still receive it?

More than ten million pensioners are not receiving the 2024 winter fuel payment after the government changed the rules.

The payments are only being given to people who are already receiving Pension Credit or other means-tested financial support.

Those who are eligible for Pension Credit must claim the benefit before the end of December 21 to ensure they receive extra help with fuel bills this winter.

winter fuel payment The payment was previously made to all pensioners to help with energy costs during the coldest period of the year.

But in July, the government said Future payments in England and Wales will only go to low-income people who receive specified benefits such as pension credit.

The changes mean more than 10 million pensioners will not receive payments for winter 2024.

A number of charities, unions and MPs criticized the decision to means-test the payments.

He expressed concern about the number of older people living on relatively low incomes who will miss out, and who do not claim pension credit despite currently qualifying for it.

Unite Union has Asked High Court for immediate judicial review of policy change, It said the government should have gathered more evidence on the impact of the cuts before announcing them.

The Winter Fuel Payment is £200 for people who are receiving some benefits and born between 23 September 1944 and 22 September 1958.

For people born before 23 September 1944, and on some benefits, it costs £300.

If you live with someone, and claim benefits jointly, only one of the couple receives the payment.

Although the Winter Fuel Payment is paid automatically, without any direct claims, the majority of those eligible will only get the money if they have previously registered to receive it. pension credit,

This is a state pension top-up, worth thousands of pounds a year, and can be a gateway to other financial help, including a reduction in council tax, a free TV license for those over the age of 75 or with the NHS. Help is included. Cost.

However, an estimated 880,000 eligible pensioners fail to claim it.

If you’re above state pension age and your income is less than £218.15 a week, or less than £332.95 as a combined weekly income with your partner, you may be eligible for Pension Credit. Savings are also taken into account.

Anyone entitled to pension credit for at least one day between 16 and 22 September 2024 will receive the winter fuel payment.

People with disabilities, someone caring for someone, or those with housing costs may still qualify, even if they have extra income or savings.

You can check your eligibility for Pension Credit Government Online Calculator,

Information is also available on how to claim, And a phone line is available on weekdays – 0800 99 1234.

The deadline to claim the pension credit in time to receive the 2024 winter fuel payment is December 21.

Official figures confirm this Nearly 150,000 people claimed pension credit in the 16 weeks following the July announcementCompared to 61,300 in the previous 16 weeks.

Winter fuel payments are usually paid automatically in November or December. Eligible people will receive a letter confirming their eligibility.

However, there may be delays due to the number of extra people claiming Pension Credit for the first time.

According to the latest official figures, in mid-November, there was a backlog of 90,000 unprocessed claims, of which about 9,000 were cleared each week.

A similar number of new applications are expected since then, with the risk that there will still be a backlog of thousands by the end of 2024. According to BBC Verify’s analysis,

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said it has deployed 500 extra staff to speed up processing.

The government estimates that 1.9 million pensioners – about 15% – already live in relative poverty.

This means that their income is less than 60% of the average.

Average income is the amount of money that divides a population into two parts, with half earning more, and half earning less.

In November, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall Confirmed that the Government expects significantly more pensioners to be in relative poverty Reasons for the new rules:

• Additional Rs 50,000 in the years ending March 2025, March 2026 and March 2028
• Additional Rs 100,000 in years ending March 2027, March 2029 and March 2030

Annual figures are rounded to the nearest 50,000 and do not take into account any increases in pension credit.

Writing to MPs on the Work and Pensions Select Committee, Ms Kendall said this meant trialling the winter fuel payment “This was not a decision this government wanted to take or was expected to take.” But it is “right that our aim is to deliver support to those who need it most”.

Asked about the figures, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said many pensioners would be better off by April 2025, when both the state pension and pension credit will rise by 4.1%. Under the “Triple Lock” arrangement,

Meanwhile the committee has launched its own pensioner poverty test – Partially driven by winter fuel cuts.

• A guide to benefits, who is eligible, and what to do if something goes wrong, provided by the Independent Money Helper Websitegovernment supported