DWP rejects call to revise Winter Fuel Payment eligibility date for older people

The Division for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that there are not any plans to alter the qualifying standards for Winter Gasoline Funds “at the moment” in response to a question from a Labour MP over the potential deserves of revising the eligibility guidelines.

To be eligible for this 12 months's Winter Gasoline Cost, you should have been born on or earlier than September 25, 1956 and have lived within the UK for at the least at some point through the week of September 19 - 25, 2022 - that is referred to as the ‘qualifying week’.

If you don't meet both of those qualifying standards, or should you stay overseas, you could must make a declare. In case you’ve had a Winter Gasoline Cost earlier than, you don't want to say once more until you’ve deferred your State Pension or moved overseas - discover out extra right here.

Nevertheless, Labour MP Beth Winter, requested: “What latest evaluation she [Secretary of State for Work and Pensions], has made from the potential deserves of revising the eligibility date of 25 September 1956 to qualify for the Winter Gasoline Cost.”

In a written response, DWP minister Victoria Prentis, stated: “There are not any plans to alter the qualifying standards for Winter Gasoline Funds at the moment.

“Winter gasoline funds are an age-related cost made to those that have reached State Pension age.

“For winter 2022/23 an individual has to have reached State Pension age (which suggests an individual should be born on or earlier than 25 September 1956) on or earlier than the tip of the September qualifying week.”

The DWP not too long ago up to date on-line steering to make it easier for eight million pensioner households to search out out if they're eligible for a £300 price of dwelling cost this winter.

This one-off lump sum shall be added to their annual Winter Gasoline Cost, resulting from be paid over November and December, however to be eligible for the additional monetary assist pensioners want to satisfy sure situations.

DWP steering on GOV.UK states that almost all funds are made routinely in November or December, however the cash ought to be paid by January 13, 2023 on the newest. The one approach to know if in case you have acquired it, is to examine your account.

The DWP has now clarified the cost quantities for a number of family situations together with the place somebody lives on their very own, with a associate over or underneath 80, or whether or not wither of them obtain different advantages. These embrace Pension Credit score, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Help Allowance (ESA) or Earnings Help.

The Winter Gasoline Cost, together with the additional Pensioner Value of Dwelling Cost, is just not taxable and doesn't have an effect on eligibility for different advantages. Nevertheless, the total quantity you'll get for winter 2022 to 2023 is dependent upon your circumstances.

Who is just not eligible for a Winter Gasoline Cost

You'll not qualify should you:

  • are in hospital getting free remedy for greater than a 12 months
  • want permission to enter the UK and your granted go away states that you just can't declare public funds
  • have been in jail for the entire week from 19 to 25 September 2022
  • lived in a care house for the entire time from June 27 to September 25 2022, and obtained Pension Credit score, Earnings Help, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) or income-related Employment and Help Allowance (ESA)

How a lot you can be paid

The Winter Gasoline Cost, together with the additional £300 Pensioner Value of Dwelling Cost, is just not taxable and doesn't have an effect on eligibility for different advantages. Nevertheless, the total quantity you'll get for winter 2022 to 2023 is dependent upon your circumstances.

DWP has up to date this 12 months’s cost particulars to incorporate the £300 cost and clarified who's eligible and the way a lot you'll get, relying in your family circumstances.

An older woman in winter clothing is changing the control of a heating thermostat
The £300 pensioner price of dwelling cost shall be added to this 12 months’s funds which begin in November. (Picture: Getty Photographs)

£150 incapacity price of dwelling cost

Folks over State Pension age might also be eligible for the £150 Incapacity Value of Dwelling Cost which shall be paid to 6 million individuals from now till early October. DWP shared that the overwhelming majority of funds shall be comprised of September 26.

You'll routinely qualify for the £150 cost in case you are getting any award degree for one of many following:

  • Attendance Allowance
  • Fixed Attendance Allowance
  • Incapacity Dwelling Allowance for adults
  • Private Independence Cost
  • Grownup Incapacity Cost
  • Armed Forces Independence Cost
  • Conflict Pension Mobility Complement

You could have been receiving a cost (or later obtain a cost) of one in all these qualifying advantages on Could 25, 2022 to get the £150.

Winter Gasoline Cost charges 2022/23

Quantities proven in all examples are the entire funds, full particulars of funds might be discovered on GOV.UK right here.

You qualify and stay alone (or not one of the individuals you reside with qualify)

  • Born between September 25, 1942 and September 25, 1956: £500
  • Born on or earlier than September 25, 1942: £600

You qualify and stay with somebody underneath 80 who additionally qualifies

  • Born between September 25, 1942 and September 25, 1956: £250
  • Born on or earlier than September 25, 1942: £350

You qualify and stay with somebody 80 or over who additionally qualifies

  • Born between September 25, 1942 and September 25, 1956: £250
  • Born on or earlier than September 25, 1942: £300

You qualify, stay in a care house and don't get sure advantages

Advantages - Pension Credit score, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Help Allowance (ESA) or Earnings Help

  • Born between September 25, 1942 and September 25, 1956: £250
  • Born on or earlier than September 25, 1942: £300

Winter gasoline funds should you get sure advantages

Your cost could also be totally different should you or your associate will get one of many following advantages:

  • Pension Credit score
  • income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
  • income-related Employment and Help Allowance (ESA)
  • Earnings Help

You qualify, get one of many advantages and stay alone (or not one of the individuals you reside with qualify)

  • Born between September 25, 1942 and September 25, 1956: £500
  • Born on or earlier than September 25, 1942: £600

You qualify and stay with a associate who qualifies, and both of you will get one of many advantages

  • Born between September 25, 1942 and September 25, 1956: £500 - solely one in all you'll get the cost
  • Born on or earlier than September 25, 1942: £600 - solely one in all you'll get the cost

You qualify and stay with somebody (not your associate) who qualifies, and both of you will get one of many advantages

  • Born between September 25, 1942 and September 25, 1956: £500 - you'll each get the cost
  • Born on or earlier than September 25, 1942: £600 - you'll each get the cost

You qualify, stay in a care house and get one of many advantages

  • Born between September 25, 1942 and September 25, 1956: Nil
  • Born on or earlier than September 25, 1942: Nil

declare

As talked about earlier on this article, you often don't want to say Winter Gasoline Cost as it's paid routinely to eligible claimants.

When you have not had a Winter Gasoline Cost earlier than, you solely want to say if any of the next apply:

  • you don't get advantages or a State Pension
  • you get an Grownup Incapacity Cost from the Scottish Authorities
  • you solely get Housing Profit, Council Tax Discount, Baby Profit or Common Credit score
  • you get advantages or a State Pension however stay in Switzerland or an EEA nation

When you have acquired a Winter Gasoline Cost earlier than, you solely want to say if since your final cost you could have both:

  • deferred your State Pension
  • moved to Switzerland or an EEA nation

Claiming by cellphone or publish

If it is advisable declare, you possibly can declare Winter Gasoline Cost by cellphone or by publish.

Declare for the primary time by cellphone

Name the Winter Gasoline Cost Centre to say by cellphone on 0800 731 0160 - strains are open Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm.

Declare for the primary time by publish

You might want to fill in a Winter Gasoline Cost declare kind for UK residents - this may be discovered on GOV.UK right here.

To maintain updated with the price of dwelling disaster, be a part of within the dialog on our Cash Saving Scotland Fb web page right here, or subscribe to our publication which works out 3 times every week - joinright here.

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