DWP to pay state pensioners £300 Winter Fuel Payment even if they don’t claim Pension Credit
THOUSANDS of households could still be eligible for the £300 Winter Fuel Payment even if they do not claim Pension Credit.
The Winter Fuel Payment is a state benefit paid once a year to pensioners to help cover the cost of heating during colder months.
The handout was previously available to everyone aged above 66 and helped with high energy bills.
But Chancellor Rachel Reeves revealed earlier this year the cash would only be given to retirees on pension credit, or other means-tested benefits.
To meet the criteria for Pension Credit you must have a weekly income which falls below around £218 if you are single.
If you live with a partner and you are both state pension age then your weekly income must fall below around £350.
It is thought around 800,000 pensioners meet the criteria for pension credit and have not applied.
So it is always worth checking your eligibility to see if you have a chance.
However, the top-up is not the only way to qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment.
For example, older Brtis who are living in a different country can still get the £300 cash boost.
This is because of a loophole in the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement, which sets out the rights of British expats living in European countries.
Citizens who meet the criteria can claim a Winter Fuel Payment (WFP) if they move to an eligible country before December 31, 2020.
To be eligible, citizens must also:
- Have been born before September 23, 1958
- Be receiving a benefit paid by the UK, such as a State Pension
- Have a genuine and sufficient link to the UK, such as having lived or worked in the UK, or having family in the UK
- Receive a qualifying means-tested benefit from the country they live in
You will need to claim Winter Fuel Payment even if you have got it before. The payment is not made automatically when you live abroad.
The eligible countries you can live in and claim are:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- Germany
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Sweden
- Switzerland
If you live abroad and want to apply for the Winter Fuel Payment you can find out more about submitting your application by clicking the link here.
Other ways to meet the criteria
A partner below the state pension age may also be eligible for the £300 payment if they live with a partner who is over state pension age and they jointly claim benefits. These include:
- Universal Credit
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income Support
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
So for example, if you are 65 and your partner is 66 and you both claim benefits, your partner will be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment.
If you do not have a partner and still claim any of the above benefits you could still be entitled to the Winter Fuel Payment.
If you want to check your eligibility then it is worth checking out our article here.
You can also find free-to-use online benefits calculators to work out what you’re entitled to.
For example, Age UK has an online calculator which helps you work out what benefits you could be entitled to including the Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Credit.
According to the site, it takes 10 minutes to complete and you will need the following information:
- Your savings
- Your income, including your partner’s if you have one
- Any benefits or pensions you’re already claiming, including anyone you’re living with.
The calculator is free to use and confidential.
Help at hand
The Sun has launched a Winter Fuel SOS campaign to help thousands of pensioners worried about their energy bills.
We want to hear from you by phone or email — and it’s fine if you are calling or messaging on behalf of a friend or relative.
Our panel includes former pensions minister Sir Steve Webb, pensions expert Baroness Ros Altmann and consumer champion Martyn James.
They will be joined by The Sun’s Head of Consumer Tara Evans and Sun Savers Editor Lana Clements.
And even if you aren’t eligible for the payment, our team will be sharing tips on how to switch energy providers and save money, get help if you’re in debt or simply need to save this winter.
Your cases will be considered by our panel, who will aim to give you advice within one week of your call or email.