Who will qualify for the UK Government's £600 Winter Fuel Payment?

The Department of Work and Pensions has issued an update which will see millions benefit from this year’s Winter Fuel Payment scheme.

Those who are eligible for financial help through the scheme will see their payments doubled, in an attempt to help households deal with the spiralling cost of living crisis.

If you qualify for the scheme, you could receive up to £600 in payments, and if two people within the same household qualify, the property could receive a boost of £1,200.

In order to receive the Winter Fuel Payment, you need to have been born on or before September 26, 1956, and you need to have lived in the UK for at least one day during the “qualifying week” – which is September 19 to 25.

The Scottish Government has also extended the benefit to cover families with severely disabled children.

You will qualify for the payment automatically if you receive a State Pension, or if you get another social security benefit (not including Adult Disability Payment, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, Child Benefit or Universal Credit).

The deadline to make a claim for winter 2022 is March 31, 2023.

How much you’ll get

How much you receive depends on threefactors: Your circumstances during the qualifying week, whether you get certain other benefits, and whether you were born between September 26, 1942, and September 25, 1956, or on or before September 25, 1942.

You qualify and live alone (or none of the people you live with qualify) – £500/£600*
You qualify and live with someone under 80 who also qualifies – £250/£350*
You qualify and live with someone 80 or over who also qualifies – £250/£300*
You qualify, live in a care home and do not get certain benefits – £250/£300*

*The second number applies to those born on or before September 25, 1942.

Your payment may be different if you or your partner gets one of the following benefits: Pension Credit, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, and Income Support.

You qualify, get one of the benefits and live alone (or none of the people you live with qualify) – £500/£600*
You qualify and live with a partner who qualifies, and either of you gets one of the benefits (only one of you will get the payment) – £500/£600*
You qualify and live with someone (not your partner) who qualifies, and either of you gets one of the benefits (you’ll both get the payment) – £500/£600*
You qualify, live in a care home and get one of the benefits – Nil

*The second number applies to those born on or before September 25, 1942.

When you’ll get paid

Most payments will be made automatically in November or December.

You’ll get a letter telling you how much you’ll get.

If you do not get a letter or the money is not paid into your account by January 13, 2023, the Government advises you to contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.

It comes after it was announced that the first cost of living payment will be received by most tax credit claimants from September 2.

The payment of £326 will be made to households between that date and September 7.