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Winter Fuel Payments

The Government again plans to make Winter Fuel Payments to provide financial help with the costs of keeping warm this winter.

You may get a Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2011/12 if:

  • you have reached the qualifying age (born on or before 5 January 1951)
  • you normally live in Great Britain or Northern Ireland on any day in the week of 19–25 September 2011

You won’t qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment if, during the week of 19–25 September 2011:

  • you were in hospital for more than 52 weeks previously, getting free treatment as an inpatient
  • you were in custody serving a court sentence
  • you were subject to immigration control and did not qualify for help from the Department for Work and Pensions
  • you lived in a care home, an independent hospital or Ilford Park Polish Resettlement Home (and had done so for the previous 12 weeks or more) and you were on Pension Credit, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance

Also, you can't get a Winter Fuel Payment if you move to another European Economic Area country or Switzerland and didn't qualify before you moved.

You do not pay tax on Winter Fuel Payments.

Most people get their payment automatically. If you got a payment last year and your circumstances have not changed, you do not need to claim.

If you do not get a payment by the end of December, call the Pension Service in January on:
08459 15 15 15
(textphone 0845 601 5613)
Monday - Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm.

To claim for the 2011/12 payment The Pension Service need to have received the form on or before 30 March 2012. You can no longer get a Winter Fuel Payment for last winter.

In line with changes to State Pension age for women, the qualifying age for Winter Fuel Payments will rise gradually between 2010 and 2020, from 60 to 65. This means that from winter 2010/11 onwards, both men and women will need to have reached women's State Pension age by the end of the September qualifying week.

More details are available in a leaflet available from Social Care, Citizen's Advice Bureau and other outlets:
WFPL1 - A guide to Winter Fuel Payments

or visit the website at:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Pensionsandretirementplanning/Benefits/BenefitsInRetirement/DG_10018657 for more detailed information and claim forms.