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Pensions and retirement planning
Winter Fuel Payment
If you are aged 60 or over you may get a Winter Fuel Payment to help pay for keeping warm in winter. This can be between £125 and £400 depending on your situation. Find out if you are eligible for this payment and how to apply.
Are you eligible?
You may get a Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2009–10 if both the following apply:
- you were aged 60 or over, on or before 27 September 2009
- you lived in Great Britain or Northern Ireland on any day between 21–27 September 2009 (or, in some circumstances, in another EEA country or Switzerland)
You won’t qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment if, during the week of 21–27 September 2009:
- you were in hospital for more than 52 weeks previously, getting free treatment as an inpatient
- you were in custody serving a court sentence
- you were subject to immigration control and did not qualify for help from the Department for Work and Pensions
- you lived in a care home, an independent hospital or Ilford Park Polish Resettlement Home (and had done so for the previous 12 weeks or more) and you were on Pension Credit, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance
If you are unsure if you are eligible, you can call the Winter Fuel Payment helpline.
How to get your Winter Fuel Payment
You should automatically get the Winter Fuel Payment without applying if you're aged 60 or over by 27 September 2009, and either:
- you got a Winter Fuel Payment last winter and you still meet the conditions for getting it
- you got State Pension or another benefit except Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit or Child Benefit during the week of 21–27 September 2009
If your partner is getting any of the following benefits then they will receive the Winter Fuel Payment:
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Employment and Support Allowance (income related)
Otherwise, if you think you qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment, then you will need to apply. Call the Winter Fuel Payment Helpline on 0845 9 15 15 15 or get a claim form online.
This means you will need to apply if you don’t claim benefits, don’t get State Pension, or if the only benefits you get are Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit or Child Benefit.
Get a claim form
The claim form for winter 2009/10 is now available:
You only need to claim once. After this you should automatically get Winter Fuel Payment each year as long as your circumstances do not change.
How much you can get
The amount of Winter Fuel Payment that you can get varies according to your personal situation.
| Circumstances | Aged 60 to 79 on or before 27 September 2009 | Aged 80 or over on or before 27 September 2009 |
|---|---|---|
| You live alone or are the only person in the household who qualifies | £250 | £400 |
| You get Pension Credit, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or income related Employment and Support Allowance | £250 | £400 |
| You live with another qualifying individual | £125 |
£275 if you are the only person in the household who's aged 80 or over £200 if you and at least one other person are aged 80 or over |
| If your partner or civil partner gets Pension Credit, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or income related Employment and Support Allowance for you both | The payment will be made to the person who gets Pension Credit or income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance | The payment will be made to the person who gets Pension Credit or income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance |
|
If both of the following apply:
|
£125 | £200 |
|
If both the following apply:
|
You don't qualify for Winter Fuel Payment | You don't qualify for Winter Fuel Payment |
| You did not get Pension Credit, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or income related Employment and Support Allowance and there were other people in your household who were entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment | £125 | £200 |
Claim for past winters
If you are eligible, you can claim Winter Fuel Payments for the years 1997/98 to 1999/2000. From 2000/01 time limits for claims were introduced.
This means that payments cannot be made for late claims for any of the years 2000/01 to 2007/08. Claims for these years had to be made by 30 March for the relevant winter, for example, a claim for winter 2007/08 had to be made by 30 March 2008.
Winter Fuel Payment – getting paid
The Winter Fuel Payment is automatically given to those who are eligible. Find out what to do if you think your payment is incorrect or if you have concerns about the timing of your payment or cheque.
Winter Fuel Payment – change of circumstances
If you are claiming Winter Fuel Payment and your circumstances change (for example, if you move overseas) then you need to know who to contact. If you do not you may miss out on your entitlements.
