DWP deadline for £300 Winter Fuel Payment this week – act now to get £3,900 a year

5 days ago admin

Pensioners only have a few days left to put in a claim for Pension Credit or risk missing out on this year's Winter Fuel Payment.

The deadline for making a claim is midnight on December 21 – if you miss it, you will not be eligible for this year's payment of either £200 or £300. Earlier this year, the Labour government means-tested the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefit, so instead of all pensioners over the age of 66 getting the payment as was the case before, only those claiming certain benefits will. Under the new rules, you are eligible for this year's Winter Fuel Payment if you are over the state pension age of 66 and claiming one of the following benefits between September 16 and September 22, 2024:

Income Support
Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Pension Credit
Universal Credit

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Since changing the rules, the government has launched a huge awareness campaign for Pension Credit. The benefit – provided to low-income pensioners – tops up your weekly income to £218.15 a week if you are single or £332.95 if you have a partner. From next April, these rates will rise to £227.10 and £346.60 respectively.

Pension Credit is also classed as a gateway benefit, as claiming it could also make you eligible for help with housing costs, council tax reductions, and NHS treatment costs. Overall, it is worth around £3,900 a year. The government estimates that up to 880,000 pensioners are eligible for Pension Credit but do not claim it.

You can apply for Pension Credit online on the Government's website, by calling 0800 99 1234, or by printing out and filling in a paper application form. You can get a friend or family member to ring for you, but you'll need to be with them when they do. The charity Carer's UK says that when you apply for the benefit, it's important to ask for this to be backdated in the application – this should help you to receive the Winter Fuel Payment.

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