Exact date households to get £300 winter fuel payment by and what to do if you don’t

THE exact date households will get a £300 winter fuel payment from the DWP has been revealed.

The Winter Fuel Payment is a state benefit paid once a year to pensioners to help cover the cost of heating during colder months.

The handout was previously available to everyone aged above 66 and helped with high energy bills.

But Chancellor Rachel Reeves revealed earlier this year the cash would only be given to retirees on pension credit, or other means-tested benefits.

From November, eligible households have received automatic payments of up to £300.

Payments have continued to be made throughout December.

Those who are eligible should have either received a letter, or should get one in the coming month, telling them how much they will be paid.

It will also explain which bank account the payment will be paid into – this is usually the same account as where Pension Credit or other benefits are usually paid.

The DWP has advised all those eligible for the cash to expect it to enter their bank accounts by January 29 at the latest.

If the payment does not come through, pensioners are advised to contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre online or by telephone.

When you contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre you will need to provide your name, address, date of birth and NI number.

Eligible pensioners should look out for a specific code to double-check that the money has been sent.

When you contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre you will need to provide your name, address, date of birth and NI number.

Eligible pensioners should look out for a specific code to double check that the money has been sent.

For those in England and Wales, the payment will appear as the customer’s National Insurance (NI) number followed by “DWP WFP”.

Whereas those in Northern Ireland should look for their NI number followed by “DFC WFP”.

If you live in England and your NI number is QQ123456B the payment would show up as QQ123456B DWP WFP.

You should check for this code before consulting DWP.

If you don’t think your winter fuel payment has come through, check for this code in your bank statement before consulting the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

And if you haven’t yet checked whether you meet the new criteria for the payment, make sure you’re up to date and know how much you’re be expecting.

Who is eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment

You will receive the Winter Fuel Payment if you are aged 66 or above and on any of the following benefits.

• Pension Credit
• Universal Credit
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Income Support
• Child Tax Credit
• Working Tax Credit

It is worth noting that around 800,000 older ­people risk missing out on the £300 Winter Fuel Payment because they have not first registered for Pension Credit.

The benefit is a weekly payment from the government to those over the state pension age who have an income below a certain level.

If your claim is successful then the benefit will top up your income to £218.15 a week if you are single, or £11,343.80 a year.

It will also give you access to the Winter Fuel Payment.

f you want to check your eligibility then it is worth checking out our article here.

You can also find free-to-use online benefits calculators to work out what you’re entitled to.

For example, Age UK has an online calculator which helps you work out what benefits you could be entitled to including the Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Credit.

According to the site it takes 10 minutes to complete and you will need the following information:

• Your savings
• Your income, including your partner’s if you have one
• Any benefits or pensions you’re already claiming, including anyone you’re living with.

The calculator is free to use and confidential.

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

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