Pensioners are being advised not to miss a vital deadline on Saturday that might allow them to get the winter heating payment if they successfully apply for a pension credit. The deadline for claiming pension credit and qualifying for the 2024/25 winter heating payment is December 21.
The deadline for online applications is 11.59 p.m. on December 21. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has also announced that claim phone lines will be available on December 21, from 8 a.m. to 3.15 p.m. The government believes that 760,000 elderly families are entitled for pension credit but do not utilize it.
In July, Chancellor Rachel Reeves stated that the winter heating allowance for seniors will be restricted to those receiving pension credit or other means-tested benefits, as part of attempts to close a “black hole” in the public budget. The number of retirees receiving the payout is likely to shrink by around 10 million, from 11.4 million to 1.5 million.
A government spokeswoman stated: “Over one million pensioners will continue to receive the winter fuel payment, and our drive to increase pension credit take-up has seen applications more than double, with over 40,000 more pensioners now receiving it in addition to the winter fuel payment.”
“We continue to urge anyone who thinks they may be entitled to pension credit to check now, as all eligible claims can be backdated, and anyone who makes a successful claim before December 21 will receive their payment.”
Pension credit provides a boost to low-income retirees while also connecting them to other forms of financial assistance. Jon Greer, Quilter’s director of retirement policy, said earlier this week that “it is vitally important that pensioners on low incomes check their eligibility.”
Pension credit increases weekly earnings to £218.15 for single pensioners and £332.95 for those with a companion. AJ Bell’s head of public policy, Tom Selby, said earlier this week that even a tiny pension credit top-up claim made during the ‘qualifying week’ of September 16 to 22 could result in a winter fuel payout of up to £300.
“Because of the way the backdating rules work, the deadline for making a claim for this period is… on December 21.”
The government said that it has deployed around 500 more people to assist with application processing. Disabled pensioners get additional disability payments and may be eligible for pension credit depending on their circumstances.
Pensioners and their families may learn more about claiming the pension credit at gov.uk/pension-credit/how-to-claim.
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