Exact codes that reveal if you get winter fuel payments as DWP confirms seven benefits that qualify for £300 payment
THOUSANDS of households on certain benefits will no longer qualify for this year’s £300 winter fuel payment.
However, those who have active claims for at least one of seven benefits will still get the cash.
The winter fuel payment was previously available to everyone over the state pension age (66).
However, changes by Chancellor Rachel Reeves mean that around 10million pensioners will no longer receive the benefit.
Now, the payment is limited to retirees on pension credit or those receiving certain six other means-tested benefits.
These include Universal Credit, employment and support allowance (ESA), jobseeker’s allowance (JSA), income support, child tax credit and working tax credit.
You can check that you are actively receiving these benefits, by looking out for relevant codes on your bank statement.
If you are over the state pension age and have received any of the following payment references on your statement, you are likely eligible for this year’s winter fuel payment.
- Pension credit – National insurance (NI) number followed by “DWP PC” or “DWP PCGC”
- Universal Credit – (NI) number followed by “DWP UC”
- Income-related employment and support allowance (ESA) – NI number followed by “DWP ESA”
- Income-based jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) – NI number followed by “DWP JSA”
- Income support – NI number followed by “DWP IS”
Households that receive tax credits are paid by HMRC and these will show the following references on your bank statement:
- Child tax credit – NI number followed by “HMRC CTC”
- Working tax credit – NI number followed by “HMRC WTC”
To be eligible for this year’s winter fuel payment, you must have an active claim for the benefits mentioned above during the “qualifying week,” which runs from 16 to 22 September (this week).
Most households automatically receive the winter fuel payment, including those on pension credit.
However, 760,000 households are thought to be missing out on pension credit, which unlocks their eligibility for this year’s winter fuel payment.
Thousands of Sun readers flooded our Winter Fuel SOS helpline on Wednesday, looking for help to hang on to the payment.
The Sun has now launched a free tool to help you check whether you will get the winter fuel payment this year.
Figures from the DWP show that 65% of those entitled to pension credit claimed it in 2023, up from 63% in 2022.
New claims for pension credit can be backdated by up to three months.
This means that the absolute deadline to claim the benefit and qualify for this year’s winter fuel payment is December 21.
Of course, if you fail to apply for the benefit before this date, you won’t qualify for this year’s £300 payment.
What is pension credit and how do I apply?
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 “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 may get extra amounts if you have other responsibilities and costs.
Pension credit opens the door to lots of other benefits such as the warm home discount scheme, support for mortgage interest, council tax discounts, free TV licences once you’re over 75, and help with NHS costs.
To qualify, you need to be over state pension age and live in England, Scotland or Wales.
If you have a partner, you need to include them on your claim.
You can start your application up to four months before you reach state pension age.
Find out more by visiting gov.uk/pension-credit/how-to-claim.
OTHER BENEFITS DON’T QUALIFY
Those claiming housing benefit without pension credit will not be due this year’s winter fuel payment.
Housing benefit can help you pay your rent if you’re unemployed, on a low income or claiming benefits.
Only those over the state pension age can put in a new claim.
Households that only claim council tax reduction will also not qualify for a winter fuel payment.
Also known as council tax support, the benefit is designed to help individuals on low incomes or certain benefits reduce the amount of council tax they need to pay.
State pensioners who claim child benefit to supplement their income while fostering or raising a child under 20 will also not qualify for a winter fuel payment.
Child benefit provides regular payments to parents or guardians to assist with the costs associated with raising children.
It is designed to help cover expenses such as food, clothing, and other essential needs.
However, it’s important to note that these households may still be eligible for this year’s winter fuel payment if they also claim a qualifying benefit.
Even if you are found to be claiming an eligible benefit during the qualifying week, some households may still be ineligible for the winter fuel payment.
You will not be eligible if you:
- Live in Scotland
- Have been in hospital getting free treatment for more than a year
- Were in prison for the whole of the week of September 16-22, 2024
- Were living in a care home for the whole time from June 24 to September 22, 2024
However, you can get a winter fuel payment if you have lived in a care home for less than 13 weeks, including the week of September 16-22, 2024.
How much is the winter fuel payment and how is it paid?
PAYMENTS last year were worth between £300 and £600, depending on your specific circumstances.
This is because the amount included a “Pensioner Cost of Living Payment” – between £150 and £300.
This year, it will be worth £200 for eligible households or £300 for eligible households with someone aged over 80.
That means you could receive up to £300 in free cash depending on your circumstances.
Most payments are made automatically in November or December.
You’ll get a letter telling you:
- How much you’ll get
- Which bank account it will be paid into
If you do not get a letter or the money has not been paid into your account by January 29, 2025, you must contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre on 0800 731 0160.
You’ll know when you’ve been paid once you see a payment with a reference that contains your National Insurance number plus “DWP WFP”.