Exact code to spot when £300 DWP winter fuel payment hits bank accounts
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.
Other help you can get with energy bills
Priority Service Register
The Priority Services Register is a free support service offered by energy firms to help customers who need extra help with their energy and water bills.
Some of the help you can get includes priority support in the case of an emergency, advanced notice of scheduled power cuts and regular meter reading services to ensure you are paying the correct amount.
You can also get help moving your prepayment meter if it is located in a place that’s not safe to get to and account information and bills in braille or large print.
You qualify for the register if you are of state pension age, pregnant or with young children, or if you struggle speaking or reading English.
More information about the register can be found on the Ofgem website.
Prepayment meter vouchers and credit
You can get temporary credit from your supplier, although it has to be paid back.
In many cases, suppliers offer around £10 to £20 if you run out and can’t top up straight away to ensure that you don’t go without heat or lights.
You may also be able to get a fuel voucher.
This is a code given to you in a letter, text message or email which you can use to add credit to your gas card or electricity key.
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