Urgent warning to pensioners as winter fuel payment deadline is TODAY - here's how to find out if you qualify
Share:
The clock is ticking for elderly people to claim the winter fuel allowance, with just hours remaining for pensioners to check their eligibility before Saturday night's deadline. Following rule changes introduced this summer, the payment, which is intended to help with energy bills and is worth up to £300, will only be given to pensioners who receive pension credit or certain other benefits.
![[The winter fuel allowance is intended to help with energy bills and is worth up to £300]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/21/10/91264683-14216411-More_than_400_health_and_social_care_workers_last_night_wrote_to-a-3_1734776287552.jpg)
The cut-off point for making a pension credit application by phone is 3.15pm on Saturday December 21, while the window for online claims will remain open until 11.59pm. Telephone applications can be made by calling 0800 99 1234. Online claims can be made at: apply-for-pension-credit.service.gov.uk/start; applicants will need their national insurance number together with details of their income, pension and other personal finances over the past three months.
The reason for the deadline is that pension credit, a means-tested benefit that is designed to help with everyday living costs and is worth an average of £3,900 a year, can only be backdated by a maximum of three months. To receive the winter fuel allowance, claimants must therefore have been eligible for pension credit during the 'qualifying week' of 16-22 September.
'It is vitally important that pensioners on low incomes check their eligibility,' said Jon Greer, head of retirement policy at Quilter. According to government estimates, 760,000 households eligible for pension credit fail to claim. Rule changes made in July mean that winter fuel payments will only be given to people who receive pension credit or certain other benefits - but it's not too late to apply.
