Struggling to survive & selling their homes – 1000s of Sun readers have called our hotline looking for Winter Fuel help
THOUSANDS of readers flooded our Winter Fuel SOS helpline looking for support last month.
Older callers said they were worried about paying bills and staying warm this winter.
But our panel of representatives from Age UK, Which?, Independent Age and Uswitch were on hand to offer their expertise.
They have already helped many OAPs secure Pension Credit, save on bills and access other awards.
In some cases, we have opened up thousands of pounds in additional aid to readers.
We launched our Winter Fuel SOS drive following the Government’s plan to strip 10million pensioners of the tax-free home heating boost worth up to £300.
Those on Pension Credit will keep the Winter Fuel Allowance, but there are around 800,000 who could claim — but don’t.
They are among those contacting our hotline. In fact, our panel has received such a high volume of calls, we are still phoning readers back and investigating their cases.
And we believe many thousands more may be eligible for help.
The DWP says it has drafted in extra staff after Pension Credit applications rocketed by 152 per cent.
They insist they are processing forms “as quickly as possible”.
Here are just some of the people we have helped so far.
- Additional reporting: James Flanders and Clare O’Reilly
‘ Astonished by your support…and so pleased I took time to reach out ’
WAR hero Arnold Walton, 98, muddled through in a damp home with ageing appliances because he assumed he would not qualify for any extra benefits.
But we have helped ease the strain by getting him help with his living costs.
D-Day veteran Arnold, who served with the York and Lancaster Regiment in World War Two, thought he would be ruled out for Pension Credit because he gets Attendance Allowance, as he is blind in one eye, with limited mobility.
It meant that he struggled by on a £239 a week State Pension plus £5.25 a week from a private pension.
To help Arnold, who lives in Wickersley, Rotherham, South Yorks, British Gas has now agreed to cover half his energy bill for six months.
The firm is also looking at fixing the damp in his home and has offered to replace his 35-year-old washing machine and cooker.
Additionally, as part of its “random acts of kindness” initiative, British Gas will give Arnold a £100 supermarket voucher.
And he may get a further boost as our checks indicate he could be eligible for Pension Credit, too.
Retired car salesman Arnold told The Sun: “I’m utterly astonished by the support available. I’m so pleased that I took the time to reach out, and I’m immensely grateful for all the help and assistance they’ve provided as Christmas approaches.”
We also helped a 64-year-old reader from Stanwell, Middx, with her Octopus energy bill.
She is not eligible for benefits, but is on a low income and struggling to pay.
The energy firm credited her with £750 from its Octo Assist fund which helps vulnerable customers.
‘I think a lot of people give up’
RETIRED pipe fitter Neil Dingwall, 80, from Balmullo, St Andrews, faces an agonising nine week wait to find out if he will get Pension Credit.
He is unsure whether he will receive the benefit, despite living in Scotland, one of the coldest parts of the country.
His uncertainty – and the advice of a family member – are what prompted him to call in to The Sun’s Winter Fuel SOS line.
“I honestly wouldn’t have called in if it wasn’t for my daughter being pretty sure I’d be able to get something,” Neil says.
“I don’t want handouts, but the Winter Fuel Payment last year made such a difference.
“I think with the Government phone lines taking so long, though, and not getting answers quicker, a lot of people give up.”
He added: “It’s been brilliant having The Sun’s help. I haven’t heard about it for sure, but I’m hopeful I’ll get Pension Credit and the other entitlements that opens up to me.
“None of it would have happened without The Sun’s Winter Fuel SOS helpline and my daughter.”
‘I’d no idea we could be eligible’
JOHN SMITH, 77, a retired builder, has incurable prostate cancer and may have to sell his home.
But after a call to our Winter Fuel SOS helpline, he could be due an extra £6,888 a year.
Despite getting just £95 a week in State Pension, John doesn’t qualify for Pension Credit because his wife Sitada, also on a low income, is only 45.
The couple, who live in North Hykeham, Lincoln, are struggling to pay their bills and often dip into their savings – and they won’t qualify for this year’s £300 Winter Fuel Payment.
But a little-known loophole means that the couple could apply for Universal Credit instead, and may be due an additional £132 a week.
Crucially, this should make them eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment, too.
John said: “I had no idea we could be eligible for Universal Credit because I’m over the State Pension age. If it wasn’t for The Sun’s help, I would have never been aware.”
‘It’s outrageous I pay charges’
WE are fighting to secure Pension Credit for Douglas Gough, 72 – after benefits bosses warned he was not eligible.
Our experts reckon that the retired jeweller, from Dulwich, South East London – who gets by on £180 a week in State Pension – should qualify due to the sky-high housing service charges he pays.
Douglas, who lives in a two-bed flat, forks out £599 a month in fees despite buying his home from Lambeth Council back in 1970.
He said: “It’s outrageous that I have to pay these charges when I own my home.
“What’s even more absurd is that the service charge keeps increasing, despite the fact that the property is deteriorating and we’ve lost our reception porter.”
The outcome of a DWP investigation into Douglas’s case is pending.
Eligible OAPs have until December 21 to apply for Pension Credit but, crucially, they must ask for the claim to be backdated in order to get the Winter Fuel Payment.
Many face waiting until after Christmas to find out if their application is successful.
Meanwhile, other readers have told us they struggled to get through to the DWP’s Pension Credit hotline.
The department says there is currently a nine-week wait for applications.
And while the £300 Winter Fuel Payment is due to land in bank accounts from the end of November, it means that many will miss out.
‘I worried how I’d feed myself’
STRUGGLING to survive on her £800 a month pension, Jenny Ward, 74, began starving herself because she thought she had no other option.
“It got to a point where I couldn’t afford meat,” she explained.
“I couldn’t afford fruit and oranges to get vitamin C, so I was using tomato juice to try to get the nutrients I needed.
“I was buying tinned kidney beans because they have a lot of protein in them.
“I started to get poorly.”
Jenny, from Wakefield, West Yorks, had no idea she was entitled to Pension Credit until Age UK – one of The Sun’s Winter Fuel SOS campaign partners – stepped in.
She revealed: “I was so close to giving up and I tried to a lot of times, but Age UK kept persevering for me and it’s thanks to them and The Sun that I have it.”
Recalling how tough life was before she got the benefit, she added: “Every month was a challenge. I was sleepless with worry about what would happen to me, about how I’d feed myself and keep myself warm. It’s difficult, but a lot of people like me are in the same position.”
After a seven-month wait for Pension Credit, Jenny is feeling less fearful.
She said: “I’m not looking forward to this winter, but I’m not as scared going into this one as I was last year.”
The most FAQs we answered
THE SUN’S top team of experts are still helping people with their Winter Fuel questions – but here we’ve put together a rundown of readers’ most frequent queries.
Q: IF I already receive Pension Credit, will I get the Winter Fuel Payment this year?
A: Yes – if you are in receipt of Pension Credit, the Winter Fuel Payment is made automatically.
Most payments arrive in November or December.
You should receive a letter telling you how much you’ll get and which bank account it is being paid into.
If you don’t get a letter, or the money has not been paid in by January 29, contact the Winter Fuel Payment helpline on 0800 731 0160.
Q: I AM receiving Pension Credit. How do I get cheaper water?
A: If you have a water meter and claim certain benefits, including Pension Credit, you may be eligible for the WaterSure scheme.
It would mean your water bills are capped at a lower rate.
Speak to your water company to ask for help.
Q: HOW do I get a cheaper council tax rate? I am on Pension Credit.
A: You may be able to get a discount depending on what version of Pension Credit you receive.
If you get the guaranteed element, then you will be entitled to the maximum discount.
If you get the savings element, then the discount will be lower.
You need to speak to your council directly.
Q: I ALREADY receive Pension Credit. How do I get a free TV licence?
A: You can apply for a free TV licence if you are over 75 and receive Pension Credit.
See www.tvlicensing.co.uk.
Q: WHAT energy bill help does Pension Credit entitle me to?
A: You may be eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount if you get the guaranteed element of Pension Credit.
Your energy firm may also be able to offer you a grant to help pay for energy.
You should call them and ask for help.
Q: IF my income is over the Pension Credit threshold, could I still get the benefit?
A: Potentially, yes. You may still be able to get Pension Credit if you receive other benefits, such as Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance or PIP.
You may also be eligible if you have high housing costs, such as service fees.
But the rules are very complex.
You should do a comprehensive benefits check through Age UK.
Q: DO other benefits count as income when it comes to qualifying for Pension Credit?
A: Some do. State Pension and Industrial Injuries benefit are taken into account (i.e. they reduce entitlement to Pension Credit).
Other benefits – disability benefits such as Attendance Allowance – are disregarded, but can mean in some cases that you can get more Pension Credit.
Q: I’M struggling with my energy bill but not eligible for Pension Credit. Can I get help?
A: Speak to your supplier as many have funds for customers who are struggling or on low incomes.
If you’re not on a fixed tariff, then it may be worth considering one.
Compare tariffs using uswitch.com or moneysavingexpert.com.
Q: CAN I claim Pension Credit individually if I live with a partner, when I’m eligible based on my own sole income?
A: For Pension Credit claims, if you are single then you claim as a single person.
If you have a partner with whom you share a home then one of you must claim and provide details of your partner.
The combined household income is then assessed.
Both of you need to be over State Pension age.
However, you may be eligible to claim Universal Credit instead.
Q: IF I apply for Pension Credit now, will I get the Winter Fuel Payment?
A: Pension Credit claims can be backdated, if you request it, by up to three months – so you have until December 21 to apply.
This is because you need to be claiming the benefit in the qualifying week of September 16- 22, 2024.
Q: HOW can you check if you are eligible for Pension Credit?
A: To apply, phone the DWP on 0800 99 1234 or visit www.gov.uk/pensioncredit/how-to-claim.