All the direct payments for people above 66 worth £1,440 going out before Christmas – do you need to apply?
PENSIONERS should take note of all the direct payments worth up to £1,440 landing in bank accounts before Christmas.
The cost of living is still sky high but there are ways people can get help.
For people over the age of 66 – meaning they are above state pension age – there are a bunch of payments that you might be able to apply for.
Some will even be sent to you automatically.
Here’s the full list of payments to look out for ahead of the festive season.
Winter Fuel payment – £100 to £300
The winter fuel payment is usually worth between £100 and £300 for those over state pension age.
To qualify, the following must apply:
- You were born on or before September 25, 1957
- You lived in the UK for at least one day during the week of 18 to 24 September 2023 – this is called the ‘qualifying week’
If you do meet the criteria but don’t automatically get the winter fuel payment, you will have to apply on the government’s website.
Automatic payments are usually made between November and December, and you should have received yours by January 2024 at the latest.
If you haven’t got your payment by then, you need to call the office that pays your benefits.
Those details can be found in the letters they have sent you.
Pensioner cost of living payment – £300
Those eligible to receive the winter fuel payment automatically qualify for a £300 “pensioner cost of living payment” paid this winter.
Postal applications open on September 18 and applications by phone open from October 4.
Like with the winter fuel payment, to get the Pensioner Cost of Living Payment, the following must apply:
- You were born on or before September 25, 1957
- You lived in the UK for at least one day during the week of 18 to 24 September 2023 – this is called the ‘qualifying week’
You should receive the money automatically.
Cold weather payment – £25
Some people over the age of 66 may qualify for pension credit and therefore the cold weather payment.
When temperatures drop, bills typically rise.
This is because households use more energy to warm their homes, among other things.
But if temperatures hit zero degrees Celsius or below for at least seven days, some households are eligible for a £25 payment to help with essential costs.
The cold weather payment scheme is only open between November 1 and March 31 each year to cover the winter months.
You can get the cash more than once, too.
For every seven-day period that temperatures are zero degrees or below, eligible households will automatically be granted £25.
You have to meet some requirements to get this support, such as being in receipt of:
- Pension credit
- Income support
- Income-based jobseeker’s allowance
- Income-related employment and support allowance
- Universal Credit
- Support for mortgage interest
You will be able to check whether your area is due a payment by using the government’s online tool.
Winter Fuel Allowance – £100 to £300
The Winter Fuel Allowance is an automatic, annual tax-free payment made automatically to eligible UK residents who are of a certain age.
It aims to help cover heating costs throughout the winter months.
Anyone born on or before September 25, 1956, making them at least 65 years old, and who also has a limited income may be eligible for the payment.
Other eligibility requirements include:
- Being in receipt of the state pension
- Being in receipt of another social security benefit (not Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, Child Benefit or Universal Credit)
- Live in the UK for at least one day during the “qualifying week”, which is the week starting from Monday 19 September, 2022
If you have not lived in the UK during the qualifying period, you will not be eligible for the payment automatically.
How much you get depends on your exact age and your household circumstances, though it has always been between £100 and £300 previously.
Second cost of living payment – £300
The second cost of living payment should be landing in bank accounts during the autumn or winter period.
The exact date hasn’t yet been announced but eligible people will receive £300.
You should qualify for this payment if you receive pension credit.
You won’t need to apply – it’ll be sent to your bank account automatically.
Winter heating payment – £55
The winter heating payment is just for households in Scotland.
It replaces the cold weather payment that households in other parts of the UK will receive.
This year’s winter heating payment will be £55.05 and will be sent to households automatically in November.
You’ll qualify if you’re on pension credit or other means-tested benefits.
DWP £10 bonus
Every year the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) gives people a bit of extra cash.
Eligible households will get a £10 Christmas bonus this year.
Although it may seem like a small amount, every little helps over the costly holiday season.
As the £10 is a bonus, it won’t need to be repaid and it won’t affect any other benefit you receive.
The payment is usually paid in the first full week of December.
You’ll qualify if you get the state pension, pension credit and other means-tested benefits.
The £10 Christmas bonus is paid automatically so you don’t need to claim.
You’ll get it paid into the same account where you normally receive your benefit payments and it should show up in your statement as “DWP XB” or something similar.
If you think you qualify but you don’t receive a payment automatically, you should contact your local Jobcentre Plus or Pension Centre.
Warm Home Discount – £150
The Warm Home Discount is available to those on the lowest incomes to help with rising costs.
Households in England and Wales don’t need to apply to get the cash and they’ll automatically qualify if they are receiving certain benefits.
In Scotland, some customers will need to apply for cash.
Energy suppliers will automatically dish out the discount, which is £150 this year, as long as you were receiving certain benefits on or before Sunday, August 21.
You’ll qualify if you claim pension credit and other means-tested benefits.
The money won’t be paid to you directly – it’ll be added as credit to your electricity account. This usually happens between October and April.
Visit the Government website for more information.
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