DWP warning 'apply now' for key benefit ahead of winter fuel payment cut off deadline

A key deadline is looming which anyone wanting to receive the Winter Fuel Payment needs to meet

People are being warned of a key deadline approaching for anyone wanting to have a chance of getting the Winter Fuel Payment. In previous years all people of State Pension age received the allowance to help towards the soaring energy bills.

However under the new Labour government only those in receipt of Pension Credit will qualify. And they must be claiming the benefit in the qualifying week - this year September 16-22.

The Department of Work and Pensions has said it as received 38,500 claims for Pension Credit in the last five weeks. This comes after Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the change in who would qualify for the payment of up to £300 leaving millions of pensioners no longer eligible.

However there are hundreds of thousands more people who are believed to be eligible for the benefit which not only gives people up to almost £4,000 additional cash but also opens the door to a range of other help with bills. And it is straightforward to apply.

But to be in time to get this year's Winter Fuel Payment they need to apply for Pension Credit before the deadline. However, many people are unaware that successful Pension Credit claims can be backdated by up to three months so there is more time to make a claim if people cannot meet the first cut-off.

If you claim Pension Credit after you reach State Pension age, the very last day you could claim and guarantee that you will get three months backdating to bring you within the qualifying week for the Winter Fuel Payment is December 21. However if people want to claim over the phone, they’ll need to do so by Friday, September 20, according to Age UK.

The charity said there has never been a more important time to claim Pension Credit. Its charity director, Caroline Abrahams, said: "Claiming Pension Credit is the main pensioner benefit that also qualifies people for a Winter Fuel Payment, so we really do urge anyone who is feeling the pinch to come forward and check if they’re eligible for extra help this winter.

“Despite numerous campaigns to drive the take-up of Pension Credit over the years only 63% claim it and the figure has never gone above 66% in the last decade. Yet there is £1.7 billion pot of money waiting for those older people who are entitled to it, and it could make a big difference to their quality of life.

“We would encourage anyone with an older person in their lives to strike up a conversation about the cost of bills and mention this extra help that might help them to cope and stay warm this winter, if they put in a claim.”

Pension Credit is known as the ‘gateway’ benefit for pensioners as it opens the doors to a wide range of additional support. A successful claim for Pension Credit also means extra help with energy bills and other essential living costs such as:

• A one-off payment of £150 (previously £140) through the Warm Home Discount Scheme to help with the cost of energy this winter
• A Cold Weather Payment of £25 a week, paid automatically when the average temperature is 0°C or below over seven consecutive days
• Help with Council Tax and rent
• Reduced water bills
• Free NHS dental treatment and help towards the cost of glasses and travel to hospital
• A free TV licence (if over-75)
• Cheaper phone and home broadband deals
• An extra amount of Pension Credit for some carers worth up to £45.60 a week for 2024/25.

Age UK hosts a free and anonymous Benefits Calculator which can provide an estimate of the benefits that people could be entitled to. To make a claim for Pension Credit, older people should call the DWP Pension Credit claim line direct on 0800 99 1234 or visit www.gov.uk/pension-credit/how-to-claim. Pension Credit can be claimed by phone as well as online.

Age UK is campaigning to save the Winter Fuel Payment for struggling pensioners. Click here to sign Age UK’s petition or for those offline, people can request one by writing to FREEPOST Age UK Campaigns or asked a friend or loved one to print a template of the petition and send back to FREEPOST, Age UK Campaigns.