Millions will get some financial support from the DWP to help with heating costs this winter. Despite recent changes meaning fewer will get help due to the Winter Fuel Payment cutbacks, many people will still be getting money.
A government decision will reduce the number of pensioners who can access Winter Fuel Payments this year. Labour’s move over the award, which can reach up to £300, will see means-testing introduced – cutting back who will get it.
Previously every pensioner qualified. Now just those on Pension Credit or certain other entitlements will get the help.
Yet there is some other help. An extra payment just for Christmas will be heading to many UK households – and below we look at both this bonus and the winter payment.
Who can get the Winter Fuel Payment
You can qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment this year if you were born before September 23 1958 and live in England, Scotland or Wales while receiving one of the following benefits. In certain circumstances, you may be eligible even if you live abroad:
- Working Tax or Child Tax Credits
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Universal Credit
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
When you will not get the Winter Fuel Payment
You will not be eligible for help if:
- You are not in receipt of one of the means-tested benefits listed above
- Need permission to enter the UK and your granted leave says that you cannot claim public funds
- Were in prison for the whole of the qualifying week of September 16 to 22, 2024
- Have been in hospital getting free treatment for more than a year
Who can get the £10 Christmas Bonus
To qualify for the Christmas Bonus, individuals must be present or ‘ordinarily resident’ in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, or Gibraltar during the expected qualifying week of December 2 to 8, 2024. Further details on the exact qualifying week will be confirmed later this year.
Claimants must be receiving at least one of the following benefits during the qualifying week:
- Constant Attendance Allowance (paid under Industrial Injuries or War Pensions schemes)
- Disability Living Allowance
- Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance (once the main phase of the benefit is entered after the first 13 weeks of claim)
- Carer’s Allowance
- Carer Support Payment (Scotland only)
- Industrial Death Benefit (for widows or widowers)
- Child Disability Payment (Scotland only)
- War Widow’s Pension
- Unemployability Supplement or Allowance (paid under Industrial Injuries or War Pensions schemes)
- War Disablement Pension at State Pension age
- Mobility Supplement
- Widow’s Pension
- Pension Credit – the guarantee element
- Widowed Parent’s Allowance
- Adult Disability Payment (Scotland only)
- State Pension (including Graduated Retirement Benefit)
- Widowed Mother’s Allowance
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Severe Disablement Allowance (transitionally protected)
- Attendance Allowance
- Incapacity Benefit at the long-term rate
Not everyone above the State Pension age is automatically entitled to the bonus. The DWP’s official guidance on GOV.UK states: “If you have not claimed your State Pension and are not entitled to one of the other qualifying benefits you will not get a Christmas Bonus.”