DWP confirms 'no plans' to introduce pro rata Winter Fuel Payment for older people who miss qualifying deadline

The Division for Work and Pensions (DWP) has defined why it's not coverage to provide older individuals a professional rata cost from the annual Winter Gasoline Cost, as a result of they attain State Pension age - one of many key eligibility parts - after the qualifying week in September.

To be eligible for this 12 months's Winter Gasoline Cost, which incorporates the £300 pensioner value of dwelling cost, an individual should have been born on or earlier than September 25, 1956 and have lived within the UK for at the least in the future throughout the week of September 19 - 25, 2022 - that is decided to be the ‘qualifying week’.

If you don't meet both of those qualifying standards, or should you reside overseas, you might must make a declare for the profit which supplies further help throughout the colder months.

Labour MP, Rachael Maskell, requested the DWP earlier this week why a professional rata cost coverage was not in place.

DWP Minister, Laura Trott MP, defined how over 11 million Winter Gasoline Funds are made yearly and that having a qualifying deadline permits the Division time to make the required eligibility checks.

Ms Trott mentioned: “Having a qualifying deadline for Winter Gasoline Funds and different pension-related advantages permits the division time to undertake the required checks on entitlement, calculate a person’s entitlement, situation notifications and start making funds.”

She added: “There are not any plans to introduce professional rata funds.”

What's the Winter Gasoline Cost?

Winter Gasoline Funds have been launched in 1997 to assist State Pension aged individuals pay their heating payments. It's an annual tax-free cost of between £100 and £300, to these eligible, to assist meet the prices of heating their properties in winter.

This 12 months’s funds are being topped up with a £300 pensioner value of dwelling cost which suggests eligible households will obtain as much as £600 this winter.

DWP steerage on GOV.UK states that almost all funds are made mechanically in November or December, however the cash needs to be paid by January 13, 2023 on the newest.

It additionally lately suggested to not chase lacking funds till the January 13, 2022 deadline has handed as they will be unable to cope with queries earlier than then.

The DWP has additionally clarified the cost quantities for a number of family situations together with the place somebody lives on their very own, with a companion over or below 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 Revenue Help.

The Winter Gasoline Cost, together with the additional Pensioner Value of Residing Cost, just isn't taxable and doesn't have an effect on eligibility for different advantages. Nonetheless, the total quantity you're going to get for winter 2022 to 2023 depends upon your circumstances.

Who just isn't eligible for a Winter Gasoline Cost

You'll not qualify should you:

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

How a lot you possibly can be paid

The Winter Gasoline Cost, together with the additional £300 Pensioner Value of Residing Cost, just isn't taxable and doesn't have an effect on eligibility for different advantages. Nonetheless, the total quantity you're going to get for winter 2022 to 2023 depends 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're going to get, relying in your family circumstances.

Winter Gasoline Cost charges 2022/23

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

You qualify and reside 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 reside with somebody below 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 reside 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, reside in a care residence and don't get sure advantages

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

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

An unidentified elderly woman is taking money out of her purse — This 12 months's Winter Gasoline Cost contains the £300 pensioner value of dwelling cost (Picture: Getty Photos 2020)

Winter gas funds should you get sure advantages

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

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

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

Born between September 25, 1942 and September 25, 1956: £500 - solely considered one of you're going to get the cost
Born on or earlier than September 25, 1942: £600 - solely considered one of you're going to get the cost

You qualify and reside with somebody (not your companion) 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, reside in a care residence 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

The best way to declare

You normally don't want to assert Winter Gasoline Cost as it's paid mechanically to eligible claimants.

In case you have not had a Winter Gasoline Cost earlier than, you solely want to assert 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, Little one Profit or Common Credit score
you get advantages or a State Pension however reside in Switzerland or an EEA nation

In case you have acquired a Winter Gasoline Cost earlier than, you solely want to assert if since your final cost you will have both:

deferred your State Pension
moved to Switzerland or an EEA nation

Claiming by cellphone or publish

If you have to declare, you may declare Winter Gasoline Cost by cellphone or by publish.

Declare for the primary time by cellphone

Name the Winter Gasoline Cost Centre to assert by cellphone on 0800 731 0160 - traces 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 type for UK residents - this may be discovered on GOV.UK right here.

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