The Winter Fuel Payment is a tax-free amount paid annually to help you cover heating costs in the colder months. Knowing about this payment can be extremely beneficial, especially during the current financial climate, and this article aims to tell you what you need to know.
Who Qualifies for a Winter Fuel Payment?
This year you could qualify for the payment if you live in a household with – or are – someone who was born before or on September 24, 1957. You must also have been living in the UK in the qualifying period, which was the week beginning the third Monday of September 2023.
How Much Is It?
At current rates, you could get a maximum of £600. The exact amount you could get will depend on your age and living circumstances. It doesn’t matter what sort of heating you have and whether you have an old heating system or new air source heat pumps Worcester supplied by companies such as https://gsmlimited.com/services/air-source-heat-pumps/worcester. You can find out more on the government website.
How to Claim
If you have had a winter fuel payment before, then you should receive your payment for this year automatically. You should also get an automatic payment if you get a State Pension or some other qualifying social security benefit. This does not include a deferred State Pension, Universal Credit, Child Benefit, Council Tax Support or Housing Benefit.
Claim Directly
If you don’t get one of the benefits mentioned previously, or if you live abroad, you will have to make a direct claim. You can do this by calling the Winter Fuel Payline hotline on 0800 731 0160. You will need your bank details and National Insurance number at hand.