The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has recently announced a significant change to the Winter Fuel Payment, offering some relief to UK pensioners and expats amid the ongoing Cost of Living crisis. This change will see those born before September 22, 1958 eligible for a £200 Winter Fuel Payment this year, provided they are also recipients of certain benefits such as Pension Credit, Universal Credit, or Income Support.
Eligibility for the Winter Fuel Payment is based on various factors, including age and income. For those who have reached State Pension age, which is currently set at 66 for both genders, Guarantee Credit may be available if their weekly income falls below certain thresholds. The threshold is £218.15 for singles and £332.95 for couples. However, even if an individual’s income exceeds these limits, they may still qualify for Guarantee Credit if they meet specific criteria such as being a carer, having a severe disability, incurring certain housing costs, or being responsible for a child or young person who usually lives with them.
In most cases, claimants at State Pension Credit age are not entitled to Universal Credit due to an upper age limit. However, there are exceptions for “mixed age couples,” where one partner is below State Pension age and the other has already reached it. The recent decision by the Government to reduce the Winter Fuel Payment has sparked criticism from various charities, as this payment is typically granted automatically to eligible individuals. Recipients can expect to receive the payment between mid-November and Christmas.
Pensioners aged over 80 are set to receive £300, and those looking to backdate a Pension Credit claim to September 22 must do so by December 21, provided they have met the entitlement conditions for Pension Credit in the past three months. Eligibility for the Winter Fuel Payment is straightforward for those entitled to Pension Credit; if they qualify for even a single day during the qualifying week, they will automatically receive the payment.
The DWP has also introduced new regulations regarding the Winter Fuel Payment for UK expats. Previously, older Britons residing in 25 EU countries, including Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, and Iceland, could be eligible for the payment if they were over the State Pension age. However, eligibility criteria for expats living abroad have now been tightened. To claim the £300 payment, expats must be receiving Pension Credit or a benefit equivalent to Pension Credit from an EEA country or Switzerland.
Although the eligible countries for the Winter Fuel Payment remain unchanged, the DWP has not yet officially published which benefits from the full list of countries could make expats entitled to the payment. Furthermore, they have not confirmed the necessary actions for those claiming these benefits in relation to this year’s payment. It is essential for eligible individuals to stay informed and take the necessary steps to ensure they receive the Winter Fuel Payment they are entitled to.
