Many pensioners could still gain access to their annual Winter Fuel Payment allowance if they put in a successful application for Pension Credits.
In Summer 2024, the Chancellor announced that the fuel scheme, previously provided to all those who are over State Pension age by mid-September, was to be
limited to the least well-off.
As a result, the number of pensioners in line to get the £200-£300 sum is set to fall from 10.8 Million to 1.5 Million people, which could save the Government £1.5 Billion.
However, following a Commons vote in early September, those in receipt of Pension Credit and some other means-tested benefits will still qualify for the payment:
This means approximately 880,000 people are entitled to Pension Credit but are not claiming it.
Applying for Winter Fuel Payment through claiming Pension Credit
It is estimated in Medway there are 400 households
who could get Pension Credit and are not claiming it.
The deadline for Pension Credit to be eligible for Winter Fuel Payment 2024/2025, is the 21st of December 2024.
You can find out more and claim pension credits through the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit/how-to-claim.
You can start your application up to 4 months before you reach
State Pension age.
You will need the following information about you and your partner if you have one:
- National Insurance number
- Information about any income, savings, and investments you have
- Information about your income, savings, and investments on the date you want to backdate your application to (usually 3 months ago or the date you reached State Pension age)
- You’ll also need your bank account details. Depending on how you apply, you may also be asked for your bank or building society name, sort code and account number
If you need help completing the application, you can contact:
Imago Community, on 01892 530330, or email them at
hello@imago.community
Carers First on 0300 303 1555 or email them at
hello@carersfirst.org.uk, if you are a carer,
Kent Association for the Blind on 01634 332929 or email them at
kab@medway.gov.uk. If you have a visual impairment
MVA continues its efforts to provide coverage of local and national news and events from the Voluntary and Charity Sector.
If you would like to see coverage of specific funding or grant rounds to help your charity, your project, your community group or enterprise, you can get in touch by email at info@mva.org.uk, you can also contact MVA via the website.
And by subscribing to the MVA Newsletter, you can stay updated and discover the latest local and national news and events from the Voluntary and Charity Sector. Click here to subscribe for FREE.