Little-known loophole which means you can qualify for £300 winter fuel payment despite missing DWP benefit deadline

THOUSANDS of households ineligible for the Winter Fuel Payment during the qualifying week can still secure this vital benefit through a little-known loophole.

Previously available to everyone aged 66 and above, the Winter Fuel Payment aims to help older households with high energy costs during the coldest months.

However, recent cuts by Chancellor Rachel Reeves mean that around 10million pensioners will no longer receive the benefit, worth up to £300, this winter.

Now, the payment is limited to retirees on Pension Credit or those receiving certain other means-tested benefits.

This includes state pensioners claiming income support, income-based jobseeker’s allowance, income-related employment support allowance, tax credits, or Universal Credit.

To qualify for this year’s Winter Fuel Payment, you must have an active claim for any of these benefits during the qualifying week, which runs from September 16 to 22 (this week).

Over 800,000 households are thought to be missing out on Pension Credit, which unlocks their eligibility for this year’s winter fuel payment.

You might assume that if you don’t apply for it before the end of the week, you won’t qualify for this year’s payment.

However, thanks to a little-known loophole, this is not the case.

This is because new claims for pension credit can be backdated by up to three months.

This means that the absolute deadline to claim the benefit and qualify for this year’s Winter Fuel Payment is December 21.

Of course, if you fail to apply for the benefit before this date, you won’t qualify for this year’s £300.

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 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.