Just hours left for tens of thousands of households to make key move to unlock winter fuel payment thanks to loophole

A WINTER Fuel Payment loophole means thousands on Universal Credit can claim the £300 bonus – but you only have hours to apply.

The Winter Fuel Payment was previously available to everyone aged at least 66 – the current State Pension age.

But this year, the rules have changed. Now, you can only get the cash if you get one of the qualifying means-tested benefits.

This includes state pensioners claiming Pension Credit, income support, income-based jobseeker’s allowance, income-related employment support allowance, tax credits, or Universal Credit.

To qualify for this year’s Winter Fuel Payment, you must have an active claim for any of these benefits during the “qualifying week”, which runs from September 16 to 22 (this week).

However, claims can be backdated by between one and three months, depending on the benefit you’re applying through – so it’s not too late to claim.

To be eligible for Pension Credit, you and your partner need to have both reached the State Pension age, which has excluded many from applying.

But, if you have a younger partner, you may be able to make a claim to receive the Winter Fuel Payment through Universal Credit.

Claims for Universal Credit can be backdated by one month.

This means that the absolute deadline to claim the benefit and qualify for this year’s Winter Fuel Payment is today at midnight.

If you fail to apply for the benefit before the end of the day, you won’t qualify for this year’s cash.

According to Age UK, you can ask for your Universal Credit to be backdated if:

• you could not reasonably have claimed earlier because of disability
• illness – which must be confirmed by medical evidence
• Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) computer failure
• where a joint claim ends or is refused, in some circumstances.

Thousands of couples could be missing out on this benefit, which is worth up to £618 a month with the standard allowance before the Winter Fuel Payment is added.

To receive Universal Credit you need to be on a low income or need help with your living costs and have £16,000 or less in savings and investments.

Bear in mind that if your claim for Universal Credit is accepted, then you will need to ask for it to be backdated by a month – it won’t just happen automatically.

Other backdating deadlines

If you think you may be one of the thousands eligible for Pension Credit though, you may be able to backdate a claim in order to get the payment too.

Pensioners have three months to backdate a claim for the top-up benefit.

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.

The amount you get for the Winter Fuel Payment varies depending on your age.

If you are aged between 66 and 79, you will get £200, while those aged 80 or over will receive £300.

Whatever your situation, it’s worth checking what benefits you can receive as some 850,000 people who could be claiming Pension Credit and, in turn, the Winter Fuel Payment, have not yet applied.

If you’re not sure if you will be able to get Pension Credit or Universal Credit, you can use our handy tool to check what benefits you’re eligible for.

How to apply for Universal Credit

Applying for Universal Credit should be relatively easy.

You have to go online and create an account, then there are further steps to take.

Creating an account

Once you’ve created an account you must make a claim within 28 days otherwise you’ll have to start the process again.

If you live with your partner, you’ll both have to create accounts and you’ll join them together when you claim.

If you’re struggling to claim online you can use the Universal Credit helpline which is 0800 328 5644.

What you’ll need

To apply online you’ll need your bank, building society or credit union account details.

On top of this, you’ll need an email address and access to a phone.

If you don’t have these things, you can call the Universal Credit helpline or go to a job centre.

To find your nearest job centre, you can use its website.

After you’ve offered your bank details, you will have to provide your driving licence, passport, debit or credit card and payslip of P60.

In addition, you’ll need to prove how much rent you pay, your earnings, any disability or health condition that affects your work, how much you pay for childcare your savings and any investments, such as shares or a property you rent out.