QUICK CASH
Exact date in weeks households have until to apply for a free £600 cost of living cash
Not everyone is eligible for the money
THE exact date households have to apply for an extra £600 to help with the cost of living crisis has been revealed - and they must act fast.
Brits eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment have just four weeks left to make a claim if they have have not received the payment automatically.
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The vast majority of people who are eligible for the payment should have already received it.
The most recent figures from the Department of Work and Pensions show that more than 99% of eligible pensioners have already received up to £600.
This means there are roughly 100,000 eligible people who could receive a payment.
The last day for all automatic payments to be made was January 26.
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Payments will continue this month so those who have not received theirs yet should have received their money by January 26.
If you did not receive your payment by then, you can contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre as you may need to make a claim.
Anyone who reached pension age before September 2023, is eligible for the payment, worth between £250 and £600.
The money is available to those in receipt of a state pension and other benefits.
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If you are unsure if you have been paid you can check by looking for a payment starting with your National Insurance number on your bank statement.
The payment shows up as your National Insurance number followed by "DWP WFP".
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If you are concerned that you are missing a payment you will need to contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre which is responsible for issuing the cash.
Residents in the UK can call them on 0800 731 0160, lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
If you are calling from outside the UK the number to call is +44 (0)191 218 7777.
You can also contact them via post at: Winter Fuel Payment Centre, Mail Handling Site A, Wolverhampton, WV98 1LR.
Before you make the call you will need to make sure you have the following details to hand:
- Your name
- Your address
- Your date of birth
- Your National Insurance number
The number of households who were paid a winter fuel payment in 2022 to 2023 was 8.4 million, an increase of around 146,000 from winter 2021 to 2022.
The total estimated number of payments made to households as of December 19, 2023, is 8.9 million.
Who can get the winter fuel payment?
You should be eligible for a winter fuel payment if you were born before September 25, 1957.
You also need to live in the UK, however, there are exceptions to this rule.
If you moved to a specific country before January 1, 2021, and have a link to the UK, you might also qualify.
We have a full list of eligible countries outside of the UK here.
There are some circumstances you won't be eligible for the winter full payment even if you meet other criteria.
You won't qualify if:
- You have been in hospital getting free treatment for more than a year
- You need permission to enter the UK and your granted leave says that you cannot claim public funds
- You were in prison for the whole of the week of 18 to 24 September 2023
Those living in a care home will also not be eligible for a winter fuel payment if both of the following apply:
- You get pension credit, income support, income-based jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) or income-related employment and support allowance (ESA)
- You lived in a care home for the whole time from June 26 to September 24, 2023
How much will I get?
The amount you get depends on your circumstances, below is the amounts you can expect to receive.
- You qualify and live alone - £500 to £600
- You qualify alongside someone you live with who is under 80 and also qualifies - £250 to £350
- You qualify and live with someone over 80 who also qualifies - £250 to £300
- If either you or your partner also receives benefits - £500 to £600 (this amount is the same if someone you live with who isn't your partner receives certain benefits)
- If you qualify but live in a care home and don't get benefits - £250 to £300
In most cases you don't have to claim the payment, it will be paid directly into your bank account.
We have a full list of benefits that mean you do not need to claim for the winter fuel payment.
If you are not on the qualifying benefits you will need to claim if either of the following applies:
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- You've not received the winter fuel payment before
- You've deferred your state pension since your last winter fuel payment
Anyone who needs to apply for the winter fuel payment has until March 31 to do so.
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