DWP Winter Fuel Payment letters to all State Pensioners due before end of this month

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) recently confirmed that 12.7 million people over State Pension age will receive a letter before the end of November explaining the new eligibility rule changes to Winter Fuel Payments.

Pensions Minister Emma Reynolds MP also said the letters will encourage those on a low income to apply for Pension Credit before December 21, 2024 to ensure successful claimants receive a backdated Winter Fuel Payment.

The DWP Minister confirmed in a written response to Independent MP Richard Burgon that letters started going out to pensioners in England and Wales in mid-October "informing them of the change in eligibility to the Winter Fuel Payment and encouraging them to check their eligibility for Pension Credit”.

Ms Reynolds added that “similar letters” will also be sent to pensioners in Scotland and Northern Ireland this month.Around 10m pensioners, including 850,000 in Scotland, will miss out on a Winter Fuel Payment of between £100 and £300 this year after Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced in July that the annual help for heating bills will only be issued to those over 66 in receipt of a means-tested benefit such as Pension Credit, Tax Credits (with an annual award of at least £26) or Universal Credit (mixed age couples).The DWP Minister continued: “In November we will also be writing to approximately 120,000 pensioners who are in receipt of Housing Benefit and who may also be eligible for, but not currently claiming, Pension Credit.