Millions of pensioners face a challenging winter as the government reduces eligibility for the Winter Fuel Payment.
Households have been told to act by a certain date in order to get extra help towards their energy bills this winter. The Winter Fuel Payment is a government benefit given to low-income households who are also of state pension age.
Who is eligible for the help now? To get the Winter Fuel Payment, you'll need to have been born before 23 September 1958 and live in England or Wales.In order to get the payment, you’ll also need to have been getting a benefit during what's known as the qualifying week. This year, the qualifying week was 16 to 22 September 2024.
The Department for Work and Pensions has urged those who qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment they must claim Pension Credit – a top-up payment made to pensioners on low incomes – by the end of the year to get the help this winter. According to the government department, up to 880,000 pensioners are missing out on pension credit, worth on average up to £3,900 per year.
Meaning if you claim by 21 December and this is backdated to 22 September, you'll also get the Winter Fuel Payment. The law centre has argued that the Government did not carry out a detailed equality impact assessment, which requires public bodies to consider how their decisions and actions will affect people with different 'protected characteristics' – including age and disability.'We intend to sue both the London and Scottish governments, since both are guilty through action and inaction, of damaging the welfare of pensioners.
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