DWP £600 payout to help with energy bills for eligible households

Government minister Laura Trott has confirmed homes with at least 1 occupant aged 66 or over could get extra cash to help pay for gas and electricity over the winter

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is to make extra payments of up to £600 to help certain households through the winter, as part of an increased package of assistance.

DWP minister and MP for Sevenoaks, Laura Trott, has confirmed that more than 8 million households will get additional financial support across the 2023/24 financial year in the form of a top up to their Winter Fuel Payment.

To be eligible for the extra help, households must have at least 1 occupant aged 66 or over. Ms Trott revealed the plans in a written response to fellow MP Sir David Evennett MP, who represents Bexleyheath and Crayford.

The payment has been described as a 'lifeline' for millions of people.

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What did MP Laura Trott say?

Laura Trott wrote:

'Over 8 million UK households on eligible means tested benefits, including the 1.4 million pensioners currently in receipt of Pension Credit, will receive additional cost of living payments totalling up to £900 in the 2023/24 financial year.

'In addition, over 8 million pensioner households will receive a £300 pensioner cost of living payment as a top up to their Winter Fuel Payment later this year increasing payments to £500 for households with someone aged 66-79 and £600 for households with someone aged 80 and over.'

What is the Winter Fuel Payment?

The Winter Fuel Payment, which is worth between £250 and £600, is intended to help people pay their heating bills.

The sum paid includes a ‘Pensioner Cost of Living Payment’, which is between £150 and £300.

It will be paid to those who qualify to cover the winter of 2023 to 2024, and is awarded in addition to any other Cost of Living Payments the person might get, or their existing benefits or tax credits.

How old do you have to be to be eligible?

The extra money is for people in 66 to 79 and older age group.

Eligibility and the exact sums involved depend on the householder's year of birth, the age of other occupants in the house, and what other benefits are being claimed.

For example:

Those born between 26 September 1942, and 25 September 1956 could get:

• You qualify and live alone (or none of the people you live with qualify) – £500
• You qualify and live with someone under 80 who also qualifies – £250
• You qualify and live with someone 80 or over who also qualifies – £250
• You qualify and live with a partner who qualifies, and either of you gets certain benefits – £500
• You qualify and live with someone (not your partner) who qualifies, and either of you gets certain benefits – £500
• You qualify, live in a care home and do not get certain benefits – £250

Those born on or before 25 September 1942 could get:

• You qualify and live alone (or none of the people you live with qualify) – £600
• You qualify and live with someone under 80 who also qualifies – £350
• You qualify and live with someone 80 or over who also qualifies – £300
• You qualify and live with a partner who qualifies, and either of you gets certain benefits – £600
• You qualify and live with someone (not your partner) who qualifies, and either of you gets certain benefits – £600
• You qualify, live in a care home and do not get certain benefits – £300

Laura Trott MP

Is anyone NOT eligible for the payment, even if they meet the age criteria?

Yes, if any of the following apply, then the person will not qualify:

• You have been in hospital getting free treatment for more than a year
• You need permission to enter the UK and your granted leave says you cannot claim public funds
• You were in prison for the whole of the week of 18-24 September 2023.

We know that these are challenging times – and we’re providing support to help

That's why we increased #UniversalCredit by 10.1% earlier this year

This is helping the most vulnerable in society with their #CostOfLiving https://t.co/B74sscS44M pic.twitter.com/3KsWa3k58D

— Department for Work and Pensions (@DWPgovuk) September 19, 2023

How can people claim?

Most people get the Winter Fuel Payment automatically if they’re eligible, but if you have elderly relatives, or live in a multi-generational home and want to check your family's eligibility, here is all the qualifying information:

You do not need to claim if you/your relative gets any of the following:

• State Pension
• Pension Credit
• Attendance Allowance
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Carers Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• Income Support
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• awards from the War Pensions Scheme
• Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
• Incapacity Benefit
• Industrial Death Benefit

If you/your relative do not get any of these, you need to claim if either of the following apply:

• you’ve not got the Winter Fuel Payment before
• you’ve deferred your State Pension since your last Winter Fuel Payment

Who to contact to make your claim

You can claim Winter Fuel Payment by:

• Post - from 18 September 2023 by completing the form on the government website
• Telephone - from 4 October 2023, on 0800 731 0160

The deadline for you to make a claim for winter 2023 to 2024 is 31 March 2024.

In order to make your claim, you will need to have the following information to hand:

• Your National Insurance number
• Your bank or building society details
• The date you were married or entered into a civil partnership (if appropriate)

You will also need to declare whether during the qualifying week of 18-24 September 2023 you were:

• In hospital getting free in-patient treatment
• In a residential care home or Ilford Park Resettlement Home
• In prison

Get more cost-of-living news and information

Head over to our Cost of Living hub for all the latest news on energy bills, updates from the DWP on benefits and allowances, and top tips and advice from those in the know like the Money Saving Expert, Martin Lewis, as well as brilliant ideas for saving money on everything from your weekly shop to that well-deserved holiday.

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