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More than ten million pensioners will not receive the 2024 winter fuel payment, after the government changed the rules.
Payments will only be made to those who already receive pension credit or other means-tested financial support.
Those entitled to Pension Credit should claim the benefit before December 21 to ensure they receive additional help with their fuel bills this winter.
What is winter fuel payment and how have the rules changed?
The Winter Fuel Payment was previously paid to all pensioners to help cover energy costs during the coldest time of the year.
But in July the government said future payments in England and Wales would be reserved for low-income people on specific benefits such as Pension Credit.
These changes mean that more than 10 million retirees will not receive any payments for winter 2024.
Several charities, unions and MPs have criticized the decision to make the payment means-tested.
They expressed concern about the number of older people living on relatively low income who will not benefit, and those who are currently unable to claim pension credit despite being eligible.
The Unite union has asked the High Court for an urgent judicial review of the policy change. He says the government should have gathered more evidence on the impact of the cuts before announcing them.
How much is the winter fuel payment worth?
The winter fuel payment is £200 for those in receipt of certain benefits and born between 23 September 1944 and 22 September 1958.
For people born before September 23, 1944, and for certain benefits, it is worth £300.
If you live with someone and apply for benefits jointly, only one of the couples receives the payment.
How is the winter fuel payment linked to pension credit?
Although the winter fuel payment will be paid automatically, without a direct claim, the vast majority of eligible people will only receive the money if they have first registered for Pension Credit.
This is a state pension top-up, itself worth thousands of pounds a year, and can be a gateway to other financial support, including a reduction in pension tax. housing, a free TV license for people aged over 75 or help to the NHS. costs.
However, an estimated 880,000 eligible retirees are not eligible.
You may be entitled to pension credit if you are over state pension age and have an income of less than £218.15 per week, or less than £332.95 as a joint weekly income with your partner. Savings are also taken into account.
Anyone entitled to pension credit for at least one day between September 16 and 22, 2024 will receive the winter fuel payment.
People with disabilities, those caring for someone or those with housing costs could still be eligible even if they have additional income or savings.
You can check your eligibility for pension credit via the government's online calculator.
Information is also available on how to make a complaint, and a telephone line is available during the week – 0800 99 1234.
The deadline to claim pension credit in time to get the 2024 winter fuel payment is December 21.
Official figures confirm that around 150,000 people claimed pension credit in the 16 weeks following the July announcement, compared to 61,300 in the previous 16 weeks.
When will fuel payments for winter 2024 be made?
The winter fuel payment is usually paid automatically in November or December. Eligible individuals will receive a letter confirming their entitlement.
However, delays could occur due to the additional number of people claiming pension credit for the first time.
As of mid-November, there was a backlog of 90,000 unprocessed applications, of which around 9,000 were being settled each week, according to the latest official figures.
With a similar number of new applications likely to have been lodged since then, there is a risk that there could still be a backlog of tens of thousands by the end of 2024, according to analysis by BBC Verify.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said it had deployed an additional 500 people to speed up processing.
What consequences will the rule change have for the poorest retirees?
The government estimates that 1.9 million pensioners – or around 15% – already live in relative poverty.
This means that their income is less than 60% of the median.
Median income is the amount of money that divides a population in two, with half earning more and half earning less.
In November, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall confirmed that the government expected significantly more pensioners to fall into relative poverty as a result of the new rules:
An additional 50,000 in years ending March 2025, March 2026 and March 2028. An additional 100,000 in years ending March 2027, March 2029 and March 2030.
Annual figures are rounded to the nearest 50,000 and do not take into account any increase in the use of pension credits.
Writing to MPs on the Work and Pensions Select Committee, Ms Kendall said means-tested winter fuel payments “were not a decision this Government wanted or expected to make”, but that it was “right that we target support to those who need it most”.
Asked about the figures, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said many pensioners would be better off from April 2025, when the state pension and pension credit will increase by 4.1%, in the “triple lock” framework.
Meanwhile, the Committee has launched its own inquiry into pensioner poverty – partly driven by the reduction in winter fuel.
How to check if you are eligible for a benefit
There is a guide to benefits, who is eligible for them and what to do if something goes wrong, provided by the independent government-backed MoneyHelper website.
