Who will no longer receive Winter Fuel Payments and who is eligible for pension credit? – Channel 4 News

The government has changed the rules for those who receive the winter allowance, meaning that millions of people who would normally receive help with heating will no longer receive it.

Why have payments been stopped and who is affected?

FactCheck looks into it.

What is the Winter Fuel Surcharge and who loses out?

The Winter Fuel Payment was introduced in 1997 to help older people pay their heating bills during the colder months.

Until now, all pensioners born before 23 September 1958 – regardless of their income – received a maximum of £300 a year.

But Finance Minister Rachel Reeves announced last month that the government would limit the number of people receiving the annual Winter Fuel Payment.

From September, only people in England and Wales who receive Pension Credit or other means-tested benefits will be eligible for the benefit.

She said the cuts were needed to close the government’s multi-billion pound “black hole” between its spending commitments and the money available to fund them.

Around 1.3 million households in England and Wales will continue to receive Winter Fuel Payments, but around 10 million people will lose the benefit. The figure was calculated by subtracting the number of people receiving Pension Credit (1.4 million) from the last number of people receiving the Winter Fuel Payment (11.3 million).

A government spokesperson told FactCheck that “from October, eligible pensioners will also be able to take advantage of the £150 Warm Home Discount scheme to help pay their winter energy bills.”

“We urge pensioners to come forward and check their eligibility for pension credit so that as many people in need as possible can access this support,” they added.

Who is eligible for pension credit?

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has urged pensioners to check their entitlement to pension credit this winter, as it is estimated that 800,000 pensioners are not taking up their entitlement even though they are entitled to it.

People who receive an AOW benefit and are over 66 years old and have a low income can receive money in the form of Pension Credit to help pay for their living expenses.
The government is running a Pension Credit awareness campaign aimed at identifying households who are not claiming the benefit and encouraging people to apply by 21 December. This is the last date to submit a retroactive claim for Pension Credit in order to receive the Winter Fuel Payment.

What other support is available?

There are a number of other payments you may be eligible for in the winter. The Cold Weather Payment applies if you receive certain benefits and the temperature drops to zero degrees Celsius or below for seven consecutive days. The Warm Home Discount offers a £150 discount on your bills if you receive Pension Credit or live in a low-income household.

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