Map reveals areas where winter fuel payments are least claimed – are you missing out on £300 from DWP? --[Reported by Umva mag]

HUNDREDS of thousands of households are at risk of losing out on this year’s winter fuel payment. Cuts made by chancellor Rachel Reeves mean that only households claiming pension credit and a handful of other benefits are now eligible. However, the latest Department for Work and Pension (DWP) statistics reveal that up to 760,000 families entitled to pension credit are not claiming it. If these households do not apply before a crucial deadline, they will miss out on this year’s winter fuel payment, worth up to £300. Not to mention the free cash provided by the benefit. Pension credit tops up your weekly income to £218.15 if you are single or to £332.95 if you have a partner. The map above, based on data from Policy in Practice, shows that Birmingham has the highest number of households not claiming pension credit despite being eligible. Over 17,000 households in Birmingham have yet to submit a claim for the benefit, even though they qualify for the additional financial support. In Glasgow, 12,649 eligible individuals have not claimed Pension Credit. In Liverpool, 10,065 people have not applied for this essential benefit. City of London has the lowest number of eligible people yet to claim Pension Credit, with only 59. Next is the Shetland Islands, where only 200 eligible individuals have yet to apply, followed by the Orkney Islands with 258. To be eligible for this year’s winter fuel payment, you must have an active claim for the benefits mentioned above during the “qualifying week,” which runs from 16 to 22 September. Most households automatically receive the winter fuel payment, including those on pension credit. As new claims for pension credit can be backdated by up to three months, you can still apply now and qualify for this year’s winter fuel payment. The absolute deadline to claim the benefit and qualify is December 21. CHECK IF YOU QUALIFY Pension Credit tops up your weekly income to £218.15 if you are single or to £332.95 if you have a partner. This is known as “guarantee credit”. If your income is lower than this, you’re very likely to be eligible for the benefit. However, if your income is slightly higher, you might still be eligible for pension credit if you have a disability, you care for someone, you have savings or you have housing costs. You could get an extra £81.50 a week if you have a disability or claim any of the following: Attendance allowance The middle or highest rate from the care component of disability living allowance (DLA) The daily living component of personal independence payment (PIP) Armed forces independence payment The daily living component of adult disability payment (ADP) at the standard or enhanced rate. You could get the “savings credit” part of pension credit if both of the following apply: You reached State Pension age before April 6, 2016 You saved some money for retirement, for example, a personal or workplace pension This part of pension credit is worth £17.01 for single people or £19.04 for couples. Pension credit opens the door to other support, including housing benefits, cost of living payments, council tax reductions and the winter fuel payment. Claims for pension credit also open doors to a number of freebies and discounts. For example, pension credit claimants over 75 qualify for a free TV licence worth up to £169.50 a year. Claims for the benefit also provide eligibility to £25 a week cold weather payments and the £150 warm home discount. We have a guide on all the state pension freebies and discounts you can get. How do I apply for pension credit? YOU can start your application up to four months before you reach state pension age. Applications for pension credit can be made on the government website or by ringing the pension credit claim line on 0800 99 1234. You can get a friend or family member to ring for you, but you’ll need to be with them when they do. You’ll need the following information about you and your partner if you have one: National Insurance number Information about any income, savings and investments you have Information about your income, savings and investments on the date you want to backdate your application to (usually three months ago or the date you reached state pension age) You can also check your eligibility online by visiting www.gov.uk/pension-credit first. If you claim after you reach pension age, you can backdate your claim for up to three months. How much is the winter fuel payment and how is it paid? Payments last year were worth between £300 and £600, depending on your specific circumstances. This is because the amount included a “Pensioner Cost of Living Payment” – between £150 and £300. This year, it will be wo

Oct 15, 2024 - 16:59

Map reveals areas where winter fuel payments are least claimed – are you missing out on £300 from DWP? --[Reported by Umva mag]

HUNDREDS of thousands of households are at risk of losing out on this year’s winter fuel payment.

Cuts made by chancellor Rachel Reeves mean that only households claiming pension credit and a handful of other benefits are now eligible.

However, the latest Department for Work and Pension (DWP) statistics reveal that up to 760,000 families entitled to pension credit are not claiming it.

If these households do not apply before a crucial deadline, they will miss out on this year’s winter fuel payment, worth up to £300.

Not to mention the free cash provided by the benefit.

Pension credit tops up your weekly income to £218.15 if you are single or to £332.95 if you have a partner.

The map above, based on data from Policy in Practice, shows that Birmingham has the highest number of households not claiming pension credit despite being eligible.

Over 17,000 households in Birmingham have yet to submit a claim for the benefit, even though they qualify for the additional financial support.

In Glasgow, 12,649 eligible individuals have not claimed Pension Credit.

In Liverpool, 10,065 people have not applied for this essential benefit.

City of London has the lowest number of eligible people yet to claim Pension Credit, with only 59.

Next is the Shetland Islands, where only 200 eligible individuals have yet to apply, followed by the Orkney Islands with 258.

To be eligible for this year’s winter fuel payment, you must have an active claim for the benefits mentioned above during the “qualifying week,” which runs from 16 to 22 September.

Most households automatically receive the winter fuel payment, including those on pension credit.

As new claims for pension credit can be backdated by up to three months, you can still apply now and qualify for this year’s winter fuel payment.

The absolute deadline to claim the benefit and qualify is December 21.

CHECK IF YOU QUALIFY

Pension Credit tops up your weekly income to £218.15 if you are single or to £332.95 if you have a partner.

This is known as “guarantee credit”.

If your income is lower than this, you’re very likely to be eligible for the benefit.

However, if your income is slightly higher, you might still be eligible for pension credit if you have a disability, you care for someone, you have savings or you have housing costs.

You could get an extra £81.50 a week if you have a disability or claim any of the following:

Attendance allowance
The middle or highest rate from the care component of disability living allowance (DLA)
The daily living component of personal independence payment (PIP)
Armed forces independence payment
The daily living component of adult disability payment (ADP) at the standard or enhanced rate.

You could get the “savings credit” part of pension credit if both of the following apply:

You reached State Pension age before April 6, 2016
You saved some money for retirement, for example, a personal or workplace pension

This part of pension credit is worth £17.01 for single people or £19.04 for couples.

Pension credit opens the door to other support, including housing benefits, cost of living payments, council tax reductions and the winter fuel payment.

Claims for pension credit also open doors to a number of freebies and discounts.

For example, pension credit claimants over 75 qualify for a free TV licence worth up to £169.50 a year.

Claims for the benefit also provide eligibility to £25 a week cold weather payments and the £150 warm home discount.

We have a guide on all the state pension freebies and discounts you can get.

How do I apply for pension credit?

YOU can start your application up to four months before you reach state pension age.

Applications for pension credit can be made on the government website or by ringing the pension credit claim line on 0800 99 1234.

You can get a friend or family member to ring for you, but you’ll need to be with them when they do.

You’ll need the following information about you and your partner if you have one:

National Insurance number
Information about any income, savings and investments you have
Information about your income, savings and investments on the date you want to backdate your application to (usually three months ago or the date you reached state pension age)

You can also check your eligibility online by visiting www.gov.uk/pension-credit first.

If you claim after you reach pension age, you can backdate your claim for up to three months.

How much is the winter fuel payment and how is it paid?

Payments last year were worth between £300 and £600, depending on your specific circumstances.

This is because the amount included a “Pensioner Cost of Living Payment” – between £150 and £300.

This year, it will be worth £200 for eligible households or £300 for eligible households with someone aged over 80.

That means you could receive up to £300 in free cash depending on your circumstances.

Most payments are made automatically in November or December.

You’ll get a letter telling you:

How much you’ll get
Which bank account it will be paid into

If you do not get a letter or the money has not been paid into your account by January 29, 2025, you must contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre on 0800 731 0160.

Are you missing out on benefits?

YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to

Charity Turn2Us’ benefits calculator works out what you could get.

Entitledto’s free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit.

MoneySavingExpert.com and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto’s data.

You can use Policy in Practice’s calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you’ll have left over each month after paying for housing costs.

Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for.

The following news has been carefully analyzed, curated, and compiled by Umva Mag from a diverse range of people, sources, and reputable platforms. Our editorial team strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information we provide. By combining insights from multiple perspectives, we aim to offer a well-rounded and comprehensive understanding of the events and stories that shape our world. Umva Mag values transparency, accountability, and journalistic integrity, ensuring that each piece of content is delivered with the utmost professionalism.