APPLY - Winter Fuel Payment
A Winter Fuel Payment is an annual payment from the Government to help people aged 60 and over with the costs of keeping warm during the winter.
If you're aged 60 to 79 and you are entitled to receive a Winter Fuel Payment, you will get either £100 or £200, depending on your circumstances in the qualifying week 15-21 September 2008.
If you're aged 80 or over and you are entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment, you will get an extra £50 or £100, so you could get up to £300, depending on your circumstances in the qualifying week.
You do not pay tax on Winter Fuel Payments.
As a result of pensions reform the minimum age at which both men and women will be able to receive a Winter Fuel Payment will rise incrementally to 65 between 2010 and 2020. There is a working assumption that it will rise again to 68 with the increase in State Pension age. Precise details of how the Winter Fuel Payment qualifying age will increase are yet to be finalised.
Do I qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment?
You should qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment for the winter of 2008/09 if during the qualifying week you are:
- aged 60 or over and
- normally living in Great Britain or Northern Ireland
Payments may continue if you leave or have left the United Kingdom and are living in another EEA country.
How do I get it?
I got a Winter Fuel Payment last year. What do I need to do?
If you got a Winter Fuel Payment last winter, you should have automatically got one this winter as long as your circumstances have not changed.
If your circumstances have changed, you must tell The Pension Service about the change as soon as possible. You can ring the office that pays your benefit or contact the Winter Fuel Payment Helpline on 08459 15 15 15 or download the Winter Fuel Payment Claim Form
If you were getting a State Pension or other social security benefit last year (not including Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit or Child Benefit), you will need to make a claim for this winter's payment.
I did not get a Winter Fuel Payment last year. What do I need to do?
You should get your Winter Fuel Payment automatically if, during the qualifying week, you are aged 60 or over and are getting a State Pension or other social security benefit (but not including Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit or Child Benefit).You should not have to do anything to get your Winter Fuel Payment.
Otherwise, if you were aged 60 or over and think you may be eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment, you need to make a claim. You can get a claim form by calling 08459 15 15 15 or downloading the Winter Fuel Payment Claim Form
If your claim last year was unsuccessful and your circumstances have changed, you might now qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment.
How will you pay me my Winter Fuel Payment?
The Pension Service will pay your Winter Fuel Payment into your bank, building society or post office account, or as a cheque or payable order sent to your home address:
- If you are receiving a State Pension or other social security benefit
- If you get a benefit or pension paid directly into a bank or building society account, The Pension Service will normally pay your Winter Fuel Payment into the same account. Otherwise, The Pension Service will send a cheque to your home address. The Pension Service may send some people a payable order instead. The Pension Service will send you a letter telling you when and how they will make the payment.
How much Winter Fuel Payment will I get?
If you are aged 60 to 79 and you are entitled to receive a Winter Fuel Payment, you will get either £100 or £200, depending on your circumstances in the qualifying week. If you are aged 80 or over and you are entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment, you will get an extra £50 or £100, so you could get up to £300, depending on your circumstances in the qualifying week.
How will my circumstances affect whether I get a Winter Fuel Payment?
If you qualify, and:
- You live alone or
- You are the only person in your household who qualifies for a Winter Fuel Payment or
- You get Pension Credit or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
You should get:
- £200 if you are aged 60 to 79 or
- £300 if you are aged 80 or over
If you qualify, and:
- You don't get Pension Credit or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance and
- You live with at least one other person who qualifies
You should get:
- You £100 each if you are both (or all, if you live with more than one other person) aged 60 to 79
- £150 each if you and at least one other person are aged 80 or over; or £200 if you are the only person aged 80 or over (others in the household will get £100)
For more information visit Winter Fuel Payment
Energy suppliers are continually changing their tariffs. We recommend you conduct a review of your energy use by visting Seniors Discounts every 12 months and following our simple 1-2-3 steps to save money on energy costs.
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