How to qualify for winter fuel payment if your income is higher than £218 a week
MILLIONS of households are no longer eligible for this year’s winter fuel payments.
However, hundreds of thousands of households could secure the cash if they launch a claim for pension credit before the December deadline.
In the past, winter fuel payments worth up to £300 were available to everyone aged 66 and above.
However, after Labour’s election victory, Chancellor Rachel Reeves introduced cuts limiting winter fuel payment eligibility to those on pension credit or other means-tested benefits.
To be eligible for this year’s 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.
However, 880,000 households are thought to be missing out on pension credit, which unlocks their eligibility for this year’s winter fuel payment.
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.
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.
What if my income is higher?
If your income is slightly higher than the following rates, you might still be eligible for pension credit:
- Single: £218 a week
- Couple: £333 a week
For example, single applicants might still be eligible if their weekly income is under £235.
And those in couples may still get it if they earn under £350 a week.
Those with disabilities, who care for someone, or who get help with their housing costs could still qualify.
For example, if you claim attendance allowance, the threshold at which you can qualify for pension credit rises by £82 a week.
The benefit is open to people over state pension age who need help with personal care due to a physical or mental disability.
The income you receive through attendance allowance is not counted towards your eligibility for pension credit.
ATTENDANCE ALLOWANCE
ATTENDANCE allowance offers cash support to those over the state pension age who need help with personal care due to a physical or mental disability.
It’s paid at two different rates and how much you get depends on the level of care that you need because of your disability.
Those on the lower rate receive £72.65 per week, while those with more serious illnesses can get £108.55 per week.
This works out as £434 a month or £5,208 a year.
It’s thought that up to 1.1million state pensioners are missing out on this support.
To apply, you’ll need to download the attendance allowance claims form by visiting gov.uk/attendance-allowance/how-to-claim.
If you claim carer’s allowance, the threshold at which you can qualify for pension credit also rises by £46 a week.
Those who receive help with their housing costs could also still be eligible for pension credit even if they breach the earnings thresholds.
For example, you could get an extra amount to cover your housing costs, such as:
- Ground rent if your property is a leasehold
- Some service charges
- Charges for tents and site rents
The exact amount you could get depends on your housing costs.
However, if you’re found to be eligible for pension credit, it could unlock your ability to qualify for the following extra support:
- Council tax reduction
- Housing benefit if you rent the property you live in
- Support for mortgage interest if you own the property you live in
What about savings?
If you have £10,000 or less in savings and investments, this will not affect your eligibility for pension credit.
If you have more than £10,000, every £500 over £10,000 counts as £1 income a week.
For example, if you have £11,000 in savings, this counts as £2 income a week.
APPLY FOR PENSION CREDIT
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.
Pension credit opens the door to other support, including housing benefits, cost of living payments, council tax reductions, the winter fuel payment and the Warm Home Discount.
You can start your application up to four months before you reach state pension age.
You can apply any time after you reach state pension age but your application can only be backdated by three months.
This means you can get up to three months of pension credit in your first payment if you were eligible during that time.
To apply, 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
You’ll also need your bank account details. Depending on how you apply, you may also be asked for your bank or building society name, sort code and account number.
Applications can be made online by visiting gov.uk/pension-credit/how-to-claim.
If you’d prefer to apply over the phone, you can do so by calling the pension credit claim line on 0800 99 1234.