If you're aged 60 or over you may get a Winter Fuel Payment to help pay for keeping warm in winter. The tax-free annual benefit is normally paid from November - most payments are made by Christmas.
You may get a Winter Fuel Payment (WFP) for winter 2009-2010 if the following apply:
Eligible people aged 60 -79 can get up to £250 and up to £400 if they are aged 80 or over.
Couples both aged 60 or over who qualify and who are receiving Pension Credit or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance will get one payment made to the person receiving that benefit, the other person is not entitled to the payment.
If you're getting State Pension or another benefit (apart from Housing Benefit, Rate Relief or Child Benefit) you will receive your Winter Fuel Payment in the same way that you usually receive your State Pension or benefit.
If you're not getting a State Pension or another benefit (apart from Housing Benefit, Rate Relief Benefit or Child Benefit) your Winter Fuel Payment will be paid by the method of payment you indicate on your claim form.
Most eligible people should get their Winter Fuel Payment automatically. However, some people may need to make a claim. For example, if you did not get a Winter Fuel Payment last year or during the qualifying week you did not get a social security benefit which is administered by the SSA.
The deadline for receiving claims for Winter Fuel Payments was on or before 30 March 2009. If you have any queries about your claim for winter 2008/09 contact the Winter Fuel Payment Helpline. You should have your National Insurance number ready when you call.
From 6 April 2010 the minimum age at which both men and women will be able to receive a Winter Fuel Payment will rise incrementally to 65 between 2010 and 2020 in line with the women’s State Pension age. Men and women with the same date of birth will qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment if they have reached the women’s State Pension age (to calculate the age use the State Pension Age Calculator) by the Winter Fuel Qualifying Week, which is the week commencing the third Monday in September.
You may be eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment in winter 2010/11 if you were born on or before 5 July 1950 as eligibility depends on your circumstances in the qualifying week (3rd week in September). As a result of Pensions Reform, between 2010 and 2020 the minimum age for claiming a Winter Fuel payment will rise gradually to 65 for both men and women.
The Winter Fuel Payment won't affect your other benefits and you won't have to pay Income Tax on it.
If you're aged 60 or over by 27 September 2009 and getting a State Pension or other benefit (not including Housing Benefit or Child Benefit) there's no need to apply - Winter Fuel Payment should be paid to you automatically.
If you think you qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment but aren't getting a State Pension or benefits (or only receive Housing Benefit or Child Benefit) - you'll need to claim.
The claim form for winter 2009-2010 will be available from August 2009. You can get more information by calling the Winter Fuel Payment helpline 08459 151 515, textphone 0845 601 5613. Lines are open Monday to Friday from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm.
You should claim on or before 25 September 2009 to get your payment by Christmas. All claims for the 2009-2010 payment must be received by 30 March 2009.
You only need to claim once. After this you should automatically get Winter Fuel Payment each year as long as your circumstances do not change.
If you are eligible, you can claim Winter Fuel Payments for the years 1997/98 to 1999/2000. From 2001 time limits for claims were introduced.
This means that payments cannot be made for late claims for any of these years 2000/01 to 2008/09. Claims for these years had to be received on or before 30 March for the relevant winter, for example, a claim for winter 2008/09 had to be received before 30 March 2009.
It's important you tell the office that deals with your payments if:
This will ensure you continue to get the right amount of payments.
If you're getting Pension Credit or another income-related benefit, you could be eligible for a Cold Weather Payment to help with your heating costs during cold weather in your area.
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