New DWP Winter Fuel Payment update ahead of qualifying week next month
dailyrecord.co.ukAround 10 million people over State Pension age are set to miss out on Winter Fuel Payments of up to £300 this year after a change in the eligibility criteria.
The one-off payment will only be paid to those over 66 in receipt of a qualifying means-tested benefit, with Pension Credit being the main one.However, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) announced on Tuesday that a new campaign to drive take-up of the benefit could potentially see a further 880,000 pensioners qualify and, in turn, unlock a backdated Winter Fuel Payment.
This is because claims can be backdated by up to three months, which would take any made before December 21 to within the September qualifying week.Newly published details about the campaign, which will see a dedicated ‘week of action’ in September promote Pension Credit, also states that DWP will work with Local Authorities to “bring together the administration of Pension Credit and Housing Benefit as soon as operationally possible”.
This could be a way to quickly find potential pensioner households who may be eligible.People who have reached State Pension age before September 23, 2024 and are in receipt of Pension Credit, Income Support, Income based JSA, Income related ESA or Universal Credit, during the qualifying week of September 16 to 22, will be entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment.The Winter Fuel Payment is worth £300 for households with someone aged 80 or over - households with someone aged 66-79 will receive £200.
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