TODAY The Sun launches a Winter Fuel SOS campaign to help thousands of pensioners worried about their energy bills.
More than 800,000 older people risk missing out on the £300 Winter Fuel Payment — and other benefits they may be entitled to — because they have not first registered for Pension Credit, which unlocks access to the payment.
And the extra money will be even more welcome after this month’s ten per cent rise in the Energy Price Cap to £1,717.
But good news is at hand, with our Winter Fuel SOS crew ready to offer advice on getting all the money that is yours by right.
In her July statement, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that this winter, only households in England and Wales that receive Pension Credit or certain means-tested benefits will be entitled to the Winter Fuel Payment.
Previously it was available to everyone aged over 66.
The decision will strip ten million pensioners of the tax-free handout.
There are just weeks left to claim, so it is essential that those who are eligible apply now.
An estimated 880,000 UK retirees could be entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment yet will miss out because they did not register for Pension Credit.
We have heard from readers who cannot work out if they are able to claim the benefit.
Others have said how worried they are that they won’t get the Winter Fuel Payment this year — raising fears they won’t be able to afford to heat their homes.
We want to change that.
That’s why we have gathered together a top line-up of experts — and our Winter Fuel SOS crew will be taking your calls this Wednesday.
We want to hear from you by phone or email — and it’s fine if you are calling or messaging on behalf of a friend or relative.
Our panel includes former pensions minister Sir Steve Webb, pensions expert Baroness Ros Altmann and consumer champion Martyn James.
They will be joined by The Sun’s Head of Consumer Tara Evans and Sun Savers Editor Lana Clements.
And even if you aren’t eligible for the payment, our team will be sharing tips on how to switch energy providers and save money, get help if you’re in debt or simply need to save this winter.
Your cases will be considered by our panel, who will aim to give you advice within one week of your call or email.
Caroline Abrahams, of the charity Age UK, said: “People often think if you have some savings or a small pension there’s no point applying for Pension Credit, but that’s often not the case.
“Don’t be put off by the forms — Age UK can help.”
CALL 0800 028 1978 on WEDNESDAY or email winterfuelSOS@the-sun.co.uk
PENSION Credit is a weekly payment from the Government to those over the state pension age who have an income which is below a certain level.
If your claim is successful then the benefit will top up your income to £218 a week if you are single, or £11,343.80 a year.
Meanwhile, if you live as a couple, your combined income will be boosted to £332.95 a week, or £17,313.40 annually.
The money you receive in Pension Credit can be spent as you want, but it could be used to pay for food, fuel, energy or housing costs.
Retirees who receive Pension Credit are also entitled to the Winter Fuel Payment, which is worth up to £300 and is designed to help you pay your heating bill over the chillier months ahead.
To qualify, you must have been eligible for Pension Credit during the “qualifying week”, which was September 16-22.
But Pension Credit can be backdated by up to three months, which means the last date you can make a claim and still get the Winter Fuel Payment is December 21.
There are several ways to apply for Pension Credit, including making your claim online or by telephone.
To register for the payments you will need to be receiving the state pension. See gov.uk for more information.
You can also call the Pension Credit claim line on 0800 99 1234 and they can help you to fill in an application form over the phone.
The lines are open from Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm.
Before you call, it would be helpful to have your National Insurance number and bank account details, plus information about your pension, income and savings to hand.
To contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre call 0800 731 0160. Phone lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
You can also send a letter by post to: Winter Fuel Payment Centre, Mail Handling Site A, Wolverhampton, WV98 1LR.
When you contact the centre you will need to tell them personal information including your name, address, date of birth and National Insurance number.
IF you are not eligible for Pension Credit but need help to make ends meet this winter, then there are still things you can do to save money.
You could save £162 a year by switching your gas and electricity supplier.
Around 28million homes have seen energy costs rise due to the new price cap.
On Tuesday it rose from £1,568 to £1,717 a year, which means bills are up ten per cent, or £149 a year.
This cap sets a maximum rate per unit that customers can be charged for their energy use and changes every three months.
The price cap only affects customers who are on a standard variable energy tariff, which rises or falls depending on the cost of raw energy.
Meanwhile, those who are on a fixed tariff agree in advance how much they will pay for their energy use for a whole year at a time.
A handful of suppliers are currently offering deals that are cheaper than the price cap. The current cheapest is from Outfox The Market and costs £162 less than this month’s cap.
You can reduce the amount of energy you use by lowering your thermostat, draught-proofing doors and windows and taking shorter showers to bring down your monthly costs.
Meanwhile, energy firms including EDF, British Gas and Ovo are offering customers up to £150 free to help with their bills this winter.
The help is provided through the Government’s Warm Home Discount Scheme.
To be eligible, you need to be claiming certain benefits which include Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, Child Tax Credits and Working Tax Credits.
You do not need to apply for the cash and should receive it automatically.
Our panel of experts will be on hand to suggest other ways to save money, depending on your circumstances.
Sir STEVE WEBB: PENSIONS Minister 2010- 2015. Joined consultancy Lane Clark & Peacock in 2020 and campaigned to secure around £2billion for women underpaid the state pension.
Baroness ROS ALTMANN: EXPERT on later-life issues. Government’s Business Champion for Older Workers 2014-15. Awarded a CBE in 2014 for her work on pensions and retirement planning.
MARTYN JAMES: AN award-winning consumer rights expert, journalist and broadcaster with two decades of experience working for the UK’s leading newspapers.
JONATHAN CHESTERMAN: DEBT advice policy manager at StepChange debt charity – the largest provider of free and impartial debt guidance in UK. He will help with readers’ debt queries.
ELISE MELVILLE: ENERGY expert at comparison website uswitch.com, she cares about demystifying bill myths. Elise will be on hand to help with energy-saving tips.
BEN GALLIZZI: THE uswitch.com energy specialist is focused on helping customers to manage their home energy usage. He can suggest practical tips to help you cut your bills.
ADAM STACHURA: THE associate director for policy at the charity Age Scotland, Adam is part of a team that offers advice and tips to older people on their winter fuel issues.
FRAN McSWEENEY: HEAD of services at Independent Age, a charity supporting older people facing financial hardship. Fran and her team run a national helpline on cash issues.
EMILY SEYMOUR: AS Energy Editor for consumer group Which? since 2020, Emily has been at the forefront of its campaigns to help people manage their energy bills.
JOE RICHARDSON: DIRECTOR of operations at Octopus Energy UK. His team are responsible for looking after all aspects of the business’s award-winning customer service.
TARA EVANS: HEAD of Consumer at The Sun. She will be joined by Sun Savers Editor Lana Clements and our very own Consumer Champion Laura Purkess.
