Two-week warning over missing £600 payment towards energy bills – do you need to take action?

HOUSEHOLDS in line for free cash worth up to £600 should receive it within just over two weeks – and need to act if they don’t.

Millions on a state pension and other benefits are in the process of receiving a winter fuel payment to cover bills over the colder months.

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The payment is tax-free and worth between £250 and £600, depending on your specific circumstances.

In the vast majority of cases, payments are made automatically, with most having been made in November and December.

But the last possible day all automatic payments should have been made by is January 26.

If you haven’t received it by this date you need to act – by contacting the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.

If you live in the UK, the phone number to call is 0800 731 0160 Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.

If you live outside the UK the number to call is +44 (0)191 218 7777.

Meanwhile, you can get in touch via post, which should be directed to: Winter Fuel Payment Centre, Mail Handling Site A, Wolverhampton, WV98 1LR.

Before getting in touch you should have the following details ready to hand:

• your name
• your address
• your date of birth
• your National Insurance number

Who is eligible for the winter fuel payment?

In most cases, you will get a winter fuel payment if you were born before September 25, 1957.

You also usually need to live in the UK, but you might also qualify if you moved to a specific country before January 1, 2021, and have a link to the UK.

This includes having lived or worked in the UK or having family in the UK. The list of eligible countries is:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• Germany
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Sweden
• Switzerland

In some circumstances, you won’t be eligible for the winter fuel payment, even if you were born before September 25, 1957.

You won’t qualify if:

• you have been in hospital getting free treatment for more than a year
• you need permission to enter the UK and your granted leave says that you cannot claim public funds
• you were in prison for the whole of the week of 18 to 24 September 2023

Those living in a care home will also not be eligible for a winter fuel payment, if both of the following apply:

• you get pension credit, income support, income-based jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) or income-related employment and support allowance (ESA)
• you lived in a care home for the whole time from June 26 to September 24, 2023

Do I need to apply for the payment?

In the vast majority of cases you don’t have to claim the winter fuel payment, say for example if you receive any of the following benefits:

• state pension
• pension credit
• attendance allowance
• personal independence payment (PIP)
• carers allowance
• disability living allowance (DLA)
• income support
• income-related employment and support allowance (ESA)
• income-based Jobseeker’s allowance (JSA)
• awards from the war pensions scheme
• industrial injuries disablement benefit
• incapacity benefit
• industrial death benefit

If you are not on one of the above, you will need to claim if either of the following applies:

• you’ve not received the winter fuel payment before
• you’ve deferred your state pension since your last winter fuel payment

Anyone who needs to apply for the winter fuel payment has until March 31 to do so.

How much will I get?

The amount you will get depends on your circumstances. These are the amounts you should receive:

• You qualify and live alone – £500 to £600
• You qualify alongside someone you live with who is under 80 and also qualifies – £250 to £350
• You qualify and live with someone over 80 who also qualifies – £250 to £300
• If either you or your partner also receives benefits – £500 to £600 (this amount is the same if someone you live with who isn’t your partner receives certain benefits)
• If you qualify but live in a care home and don’t get benefits – £250 to £300

What other energy bill help is there?

It’s not just the winter fuel payment topping up bank accounts this winter – there’s a whole host of support on offer for households.

There’s a number of energy firms that offer cash grants worth up to £1,500 to those struggling with their bills.

British Gas, Octopus Energy, EDF and Scottish Power all offer help to customers.

Eligibility criteria varies depending on the company, but in most cases you’ll have to provide evidence you are in hardship, such as proof of household income or benefit entitlement.

Meanwhile, the Household Support Fund is available to thousands across England, with the latest round worth £842million.

What you are entitled to varies depending on where you live, but you usually receive help if you are on a low income or benefits.

Some households are being issued energy vouchers while others are receiving payments directly into their bank accounts.

You can find what council area you fall under by using the government’s council locator tool.

You just have to type in your postcode and it will tell you which local authority you should contact to see if you can get help.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money@the-sun.co.uk.

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories.