Winter Fuel Payment 2024/25: What you need to know
What is the Winter Fuel Payment?
The Winter Fuel Payment, sometimes known as the Winter Fuel Allowance, is an annual tax-free payment of between £100 and £300 made during the winter months. It’s designed to help older people with their heating costs.
Who is Eligible?
In past years, the Winter Fuel Payment was made to all UK residents above the state pension age and was not means-tested.
This Year (2024/25) eligibility has changed.
Residents can get a Winter Fuel Payment for Winter 2024 to 2025 if they were born before 23 September 1958.
They must also live in England or Wales and get one of the following:
- Working Tax Credit
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income Support
- Child Tax Credit
They also need to have been living in the UK for at least one day during the qualifying week. The qualifying week runs from the 16th to the 22nd of September 2024.
Those living in Scotland or in European countries with milder winters, like Spain, won’t qualify under this scheme. Others excluded include those receiving free hospital treatment for more than a year, those in prison for the qualifying week, or residents living in a care home from 24th June to 22nd September 2024.
Why Has Eligibility Changed?
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set out the plan in July to limit the number of older people receiving the payments. The government said it was ‘a necessary response to substantial pressures facing the public finances this year and next.’ Chancellor Rachel Reeves said it would help put the public finances on a ‘firmer footing’.
On September 10th, the House of Commons approved the change in a vote. This means an estimated 10 million pensioners will not receive the payment this year.
How Much Will Pensioners Receive and How Can They Claim?
The amount received depends on the individual’s circumstances during the qualifying week. The system will automatically make payments between November and December.
| If between the qualifying dates of 16 and 22 Sept 2024 you’re on an eligible benefit AND: | If you were born between 23 Sept 1944 and 22 Sept 1958 | If you were born on or before 22 Sept 1944 |
| You live alone (or none of the people you live with qualify) | £200 | £300 |
| You live with a partner under 80 and jointly claim any of the benefits | £200 – only one of you will get this | £300 – only one of you will get this |
| You live with a partner 80 or over and jointly claim any of the benefits | £300 – only one of you will get this | £300 – only one of you will get this |
| You lived in a care home for less than 13 weeks including the week of 16 to 22 September 2024 | £200 | £300 |
How can we help you?
Our free home energy service ‘LEAP’ is here to help residents in East Suffolk, Peterborough, South Cambridgeshire, and Rutland who need help with their energy bills.
After confirming eligibility, an Advisor will visit your home to conduct an energy assessment, offer advice, and install free energy-saving measures like LED bulbs or draught excluders. LEAP can also help you find better energy tariffs and may refer you onto additional services, potentially saving you hundreds of pounds annually while keeping your home warm.
You’re eligible if:
- You have a low income (less than £31,000)
- You receive universal credit
- You receive housing benefit
- You receive an income or disability related benefit
ABOUT US
Green Energy Switch (GES) delivers a broad range of energy services across the UK; specialising in working with social landlords and local authorities. Established in 2006, GES is a subsidiary of environmental charity PECT. Any profits made by GES are gifted back to PECT to help fund their vital work. In doing so, we are the lead sponsor of their Forest project, which so far has led to the planting of over 117,000 trees, equating to a remarkable reduction of over 1,300 tonnes of carbon emission.
Sources:
Changes to Winter Fuel Payment eligibility rules – House of Commons Library (parliament.uk)
Means-Tested Winter Fuel Payment – All You Need To Know – Forbes Advisor UK
UK Government decision ends universal fuel payments – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
Winter Fuel Payments scrapped unless you’re on benefits – Which? News
