The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has explained when millions of pensioner families will receive a letter regarding the payment of winter fuel this year.
Winter fuel bills are worth up to £300 and are automatically sent to the maximum of eligible people in November and December of the year. If you should receive this payment, the DWP has shown that you can expect to receive a letter in the mail in October or November.
But about 10 million fewer pensioners will be able to claim winter fuel benefits following a rule replacement, meaning those benefits will no longer be universal. Winter fuel bills were once sent to anyone over state retirement age, but now only those who receive benefits subject to means checking, adding up the pension credit, will be eligible in England and Wales, and the Scottish government also recently confirmed plans to do so. The same.
To be eligible for this year’s Winter Fuel Payment if you live in England or Wales, you will need to have been born before 23 September 1958 and receive one of the following benefits between 16 September and 22 September 2024.
You will also need to have lived in the United Kingdom (in some cases you may ask if you have moved abroad) for at least one day for the “qualifying week”, which is adjusted each year. This is usually the week starting on the 3rd Monday in September.
If you don’t live in the United Kingdom, the regulations on whether you can still qualify will be changed this year and an update is expected in September. Previously, you could also be eligible if you moved to an eligible country before January 1, 2021, and had a genuine and sufficient connection to the United Kingdom. This is possibly due to having lived or worked in the United Kingdom and having family members in the United Kingdom.
You will not be eligible for the winter fuel payment if you lived in a retirement home for the entire period from June 24 to September 22, 2024. You may still be eligible if you live temporarily in a retirement home, which is less than thirteen weeks from the end of the waiting period.
You will also not be eligible if you have been in hospital for a free remedy for more than a year, needed permission to enter the United Kingdom and your permission granted indicates that you cannot claim public funds, or if you are in a criminal situation for the entire week of September 16 to September 22, 2024.
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