Brits Could Receive Up To £600 From DWP To Help With Energy Bills

Thousands of pensioners living in Grimsby, Boston, Skegness, Scunthorpe, Lincoln, Grantham, and other parts of Lincolnshire could receive up to £600 to help with their energy bills

The UK government has announced that pensioners across Lincolnshire and the country will receive financial assistance to help cover the cost of living during the winter months.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will be providing a payment of up to £600, which combines the Winter Fuel Payment and the pensioner cost of living payment.

The Government help aims to alleviate the financial burden faced by elderly individuals, particularly due to the prevailing cost of living crisis.

The Winter Fuel Payment is a tax-free benefit that is normally worth between £100 and £300. The amount received depends on various factors such as age, living arrangements, and benefit claims. However, in light of the ongoing cost of living crisis, the government has decided to increase the Winter Fuel Payment by an additional £300 this year.

Am I eligible to receive the Winter Fuel Payment?

To be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment, individuals must have been born on or before September 25, 1957, which essentially means they have reached or will reach state pension age. Additionally, they must have lived in the UK for at least one day during the qualifying week, which for this year is between September 18 and 24.

If you already receive one of the following benefit payments, they will automatically be eligible to receive the Winter Fuel Payment:

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 don’t claim these benefits and this is the first time you are receiving the Winter Fuel Payment, then you will likely need to apply for the Winter Fuel Payment. You can apply by post from September 8, 2023, and by phone from October 4, 2023. You can find details and contact information here.

Exclusions from Winter Fuel Payment

There are certain circumstances in which individuals are not eligible to receive the Winter Fuel Payment. These include:

Being in the hospital and receiving free treatment for more than a year
Needing permission to enter the UK, and the granted leave stating that public funds cannot be claimed
Being in prison for the entire week from September 18 to 24, 2023
Residing in a care home from June 26 to September 24, 2023, and receiving Pension Credit, Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, or Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

How much Winter Fuel Payment will I get?

The amount you will get depends on your personal circumstances, with the level of Winter Fuel Payment usually being smaller if you live in a care home or nursing home and don’t get one of the following benefits:

Pension Credit

Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

Here is how much you will get if you were born between September 25, 1943, and September 24, 1957:

Live alone (or none of the people you live with qualify) – £500

Live with someone under 80 who also qualifies – £250

Live with someone 80 or over who also qualifies – £250

Live in a care home and do not get certain benefits – £250

Here is how much you will get if you were born on or before 25 September 1943:

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

If you or your partner claims Pension Credit, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance or Income Support, your pay will be different.