What Are Winter Fuel Payments and Can I Claim Them?

• If you are 63 or over, you may be entitled to winter fuel payments to help you stay warm this winter. You may be entitled to claim up to £300 with the costs of heating your home. It is essential to make sure that you are warm enough during the winter months. Money Pug tries to help by allowing you to compare all the best energy deals out there to find the best one for you. We make switching your energy supplier so much quicker and easier. But to help you understand whether or not you can get winter fuel payments, and how to do so, we’ve put together this guide to make keeping money in your pocket even easier. 

What is a Winter Fuel Payment?

A winter fuel payment is a tax-free government grant to help you with the cost of heating your home. If you are eligible for one of these payments, you could be paid between £100 and £300 in the beginning of winter. 

Am I Eligible for Winter Fuel Payments?

You may be able to get winter fuel payments if:

• You are aged 63 or over. (Were born on or before 5th April 1954 – to be eligible for the April 2019-March 2020 financial year.)
• Lived in the UK for at least one day during the ‘qualifying week’ – 16th to 22nd September 2019.

(If you did not live in the UK during the qualifying week, you might still get the payment if:

• You live in Switzerland or an EEA country.
• & have a genuine and sufficient link to the UK. (This can include having family in the UK, or having lived and worked here.)

You cannot claim if you:

• Are in hospital getting free treatment for more than a year.
• Were in prison for the whole of the qualifying week.
• Lived in a care home for the whole time between 24th June and 22nd September and got Pension Credit, Income Support, Income based job seekers allowance or income related Employment and Support allowance. 
• Need permission to enter the UK, and your granted leave states that you cannot claim public funds. 

If you are not eligible for winter fuel payments, you may still be eligible for Cold Weather Payment or the Warm Home Discount Scheme. 

What is the Cold Weather Payment?

The cold weather payment is for those who are on a low income. It is also designed to help with the costs of heating your home. It is payable during the times of the year when it is particularly cold where you live. You will be eligible for this payment if you get:

• income support
• pensioner credit
• disability, or pensioner premium
• disabled child premium
• child tax credit
• universal credit.

You can also claim cold weather payments if you have a child under the age of 5. 

How Can I Get Winter Fuel Payments if I am Eligible?

If you are eligible, you should get the winter fuel payment automatically if you get a state pension or another social security benefit. If you are eligible but do not get paid automatically, you need to make a claim. The deadline for claiming winter fuel payments for winter 2019-2020 is 31st March 2020. 

You can claim if you believe you are eligible by:

• Filling in the form on the gov.uk website.
• Calling 03549 15 15 15.

If you made a successful claim last year and your circumstances have not changed, you should automatically receive the same payment again this year. 

Most payments are made between November and December and you should get your money by 13th January 2020 at the latest.

How Much Will I Get?

How much you will get as a winter fuel payment will depend on what your circumstances were during the qualifying week. 

• If you qualify and live alone (or do not live with another qualifying person):

Born between 23rd Sept 1939 and 5th April 1954 = £200

Born on or before 22nd Sept 1939 = £300

• If you qualify and live with someone under 80 who also qualifies:

Born between 23rd Sept 1939 and 5th April 1954 = £100

Born on or before 22nd Sept 1939 = £200

• If you qualify, and live with someone 80 or over who also qualifies:

Born between 23rd Sept 1939 and 5th April 1954 = £100

Born on or before 22nd Sept 1939 = £150

• If you qualify, do not get certain benefits and live in a care home:

Born between 23rd Sept 1939 and 5th April 1954 = £100

Born on or before 22nd Sept 1939 = £150

• If you qualify and get one of the following benefits:

– Pension credit

– Income-based job seeker’s allowance

– income-related ESA

– Income support then:

Born between 23rd Sept 1939 and 5th April 1954 = £200

Born on or before 22nd Sept 1939 = £300

(Unless you live in a care home, in which you will not get the payment. If you qualify and live with someone who also gets one of the benefits, only one of you will get the payments above.)

Can I Donate My Winter Fuel Payment?

If you are eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment but do not need it, since you can afford the cost of your heating, you could consider donating your lump sun to help vulnerable people this winter. For example, you could donate it through the Age UK website. 

Don’t struggle alone with the costs of heating your home this winter. Money Pug wants to help make sure no one pays more than they have to pay for the energy they use.