State pensioners have little time to apply for winter fuel payment (Image: Getty) Sign up to our free email newsletter to receive the latest
BREAKING news and daily roundups More Newsletters Subscribe Please enter a valid email Something went wrong, please try again later. More Newsletters We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show me See Our Privacy Notice See Our Privacy Notice × Group 28 Sign up to our free email newsletter to receive the latest breaking news and daily roundups Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign Up No thanks, close We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info × Group 28 Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show Me No thanks, close See our Privacy Notice State pensioners have been given a warning by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) as they have just over 24 hours to claim their £600 Winter Fuel Payment. This year, the payment includes a cost of living allowance for pensioners and is usually sent out automatically, but some people will need to make a claim, reports the Express . The deadline for claims is March 31, which falls on Easter Sunday this year. The payments vary between £250 and £600, designed to assist with bill payments. The funds will be deposited into bank accounts with a reference starting with the recipient's National Insurance number followed by 'DWP WFP'. In some cases, individuals may need to make a claim even if they haven't needed to in previous years, so it's worth checking if action is required. Read more: DWP payment dates: When benefits will go back to normal after Easter Weekend Read more: Millions will get £902 extra from DWP after Easter as basic state pension rates rise Pensioners are advised to double-check their bank statements for this reference number before contacting the DWP. Who can receive the Winter Fuel Payment? Those born before September 25, 1957, are eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment for the winter period of 2023 and 2024. Typically, you must have lived in the
UK for at least one day between September 18 and September 24, 2023, to make a claim, although there are some exceptions for those living abroad. Should I have received the Winter Fuel Payment automatically? If you're claiming any of these benefits, you should receive the payment without making a claim: State Pension Pension Credit Attendance Allowance Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Carers Allowance Disability Living Allowance (DLA) Income Support Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) awards from the War Pensions Scheme Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Incapacity Benefit Industrial Death Benefit. Do I need to claim the Winter Fuel Payment? Most older people will get their extra winter money without having to do anything, but some might need to ask for it. You should only ask for the Winter Fuel Payment if you haven't had it before and: You do not get benefits or the state pension The only benefit you get is Adult Disability Payment, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, Child Benefit or Universal Credit You live in Switzerland or an eligible EEA country. If you've had the Winter Fuel Payment before, you only need to ask again if since the last time you got it you have either: Deferred your state pension Moved to Switzerland or an eligible EEA country. How to make a claim You can ask for the Winter Fuel Payment by writing a letter or calling on the phone. To ask by post, fill in a form for people who live in the UK and send it to the place where they handle the Winter Fuel Payments. You can find the form and where to send it on the website gov.uk. To ask over the phone, call the Winter Fuel Payment Centre at 0800 731 0160. Lines are open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm. When you call, make sure you have your National Insurance number, your bank details, and the date you got married or started a civil partnership (if you did) ready. Read more: Check if you're one of millions owed pension compensation after WASPI ruling The DWP said it gave out £4.8 billion in December to help older people with their heating and cost of living. Mel Stride,
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, said: "Today shows we have honoured our commitment to protect pensioners throughout the cold winter months by paying out £4.8bn of direct support in a matter of days." "As well as getting this vital money to millions of pensioners, we have fulfilled our pledge to halve inflation and boosted the State Pension through the Triple Lock to ensure pensioners are supported after a lifetime of work." Story Saved You can find this story in My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Follow CambridgeLive
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