The four errors that can stop you getting up to £600 winter bill help as 110,000 miss out – how to avoid them
FOUR specific errors could stop you getting up to £600 in winter bill help and over one hundred thousand have already missed out.
Around 11.5million households are eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment last year, but some of them were underpaid, according to new government figures.
The latest Social Fund Account document for 2022-20223 highlighted that roughly 110,000 Brits saw their payments cut.
The document said: “We estimate we have underpaid £29 million where we found a small number of pensioners who had received less than the amount they were eligible for as we incorrectly classified them as living with other eligible pensioners.
“Some of the over- and underpayment errors were caused by customers failing to notify us that they had changed address.”
The Winter Fuel Payment is an annual tax-free benefit designed to help with the cost of heating through the colder months.
It is usually worth between £100 and £300 for those over state pension age.
But payments are being boosted by up to £300 for the second winter in a row thanks to the “pensioner cost of living” payment.
However, like with other certain benefits you’ll often be required to report a change in circumstances to ensure that you’re paid the correct amount each winter.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has said that the vast majority of Winter Fuel Payment underpayments last year resulted from claimant’s failing to notify the department about a change of address.
Fail to do this and you could see the amount of Winter Fuel Payments you’re due drop.
But it isn’t the only change of circumstances you need to report to the DWP to ensure your payments are correct.
You need to report changes such as:
- You or someone else eligible for Winter Fuel Payment moves in or out of your house.
- You or someone else eligible for Winter Fuel Payment moves into or goes to live in a care home.
- Someone who was eligible for Winter Fuel Payment in the household dies.
You’ll also need to report a change in circumstances to ensure you’re not overpaid too.
Fail to do this and the DWP could force you to repay the money you owe.
To avoid being overpaid should report if you will not be living at home during the Winter months but will be in:
- Hospital getting free in-patient treatment
- A residential care home or Ilford Park Resettlement Home
- Custody serving a court sentence
Contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre by calling 0800 731 0160 to report a change in circumstances.
Make sure you have your National Insurance number to hand.
A DWP spokesperson said: “Where errors do occur, we are committed to fixing them as quickly as possible and this equates to just 1.1% of all Winter Fuel Payment expenditure.
“Anyone with a change of circumstances should inform the DWP to ensure they get the right amount of money they are entitled to, while those eligible for this year’s payment have until the end of March to claim it.”
Who is eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment?
To qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment and 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’
If you did not live in the UK during the qualifying week, you might still get the payment if both of the following apply:
- You live in Switzerland or a European Economic Area (EEA) country
- You have a genuine and sufficient link to the UK – this can include having lived or worked in the UK, and having family in the UK
You cannot get the payment if you live in Cyprus, France, Gibraltar, Greece, Malta, Portugal or Spain because the average winter temperature is higher than the warmest region of the UK.
You won’t get the payment if you are in hospital for more then a year getting free treatment and in some other circumstances.
To find out more about who is eligible visit Gov.UK.
Do I need to apply for the payment?
You generally do not need to claim Winter Fuel Payment – you’ll get it automatically if you’re eligible.
If you have not received a Winter Fuel Payment before, you only need to claim if any of the following apply:
- You do not get benefits or the State Pension
- The only benefit you get is Adult Disability Payment from the Scottish Government, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, Child Benefit or Universal Credit
- You live in Switzerland or an EEA country
If you have had a Winter Fuel Payment before, you only need to claim if since your last payment you have either:
- Deferred your State Pension
- Moved to Switzerland or an EEA country
If you do need to claim you can do so by phone or by post.
The deadline for claiming the winter fuel payment for this winter is March 31, 2024.
How much will I get?
We’ve also added a breakdown of the Winter Fuel Payment rates for 2023-2024, which varies depending on your circumstances.
We’ve listed who will get what, according to the government.
Remember this includes your extra £300 boost.
- 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