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Winter fuel payment 2021: How to apply for DWP allowance, when it gets paid and what age you have to be

The Winter Fuel Payment, which is usually referred to as a 'heating allowance', is an annual tax-free payment from the Department of Work and Pensions

Winter is coming, and many will be depending on the Winter Fuel Payment to get them through.

The allowance is given to certain people to help them pay for gas and electricity at the time of year they will use it most.

Here’s everything you need to know.

What is the Winter Fuel Payment?

The Winter Fuel Payment, which is usually referred to as a “heating allowance”, is an annual tax-free payment from the Department of Work and Pensions.

Anyone who is eligible can receive between £100-300 each year.

It will be particularly helpful this year as it is though fuel prices are set to increase in the coming months.

Gas prices have been rising internationally, and it has been pinned on a number of factors, including a longer winter in 2020-2021 that left gas stocks depleted and higher demand globally after Covid.

The increase in gas prices also affects electricity, as around a third of electricity is generated from burning gas.

Scheduled maintenance projects rescheduled from 2020 to 2021 because of the pandemic, lower than usual gas supply from Russia and less liquified natural gas reaching Europe because of increased deliveries to Asia have also contributed to spikes in wholesale energy prices and uncharacteristically low supply.

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Energy firms buy gas and electricity wholesale and with higher demand and limited supply, prices have shot up to record levels. Prices for wholesale gas are up 250 per cent since January, according to industry group Oil & Gas UK.

This should only affect yo if you are on a variable rate, and there is a limit as to how high it can go.

Consumers are protected by the energy price cap, which was introduced in January 2019 and is intended to prevent customers paying excessively high prices. It means suppliers cannot pass on the increase in wholesale gas prices to customers.

Who is eligible for the allowance?

You qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment if both the following apply:

  • You were born on or before 26 September 1955
  • you lived in the UK for at least one day during the week of 20 to 26 September 2021 – this is called the ‘qualifying week’

If you did not live in the UK during the qualifying week, you might still get the payment if both the following apply:

  • You live in Switzerland or a European Economic Area (EAA) country
  • You have a genuine and sufficient link to the UK – this can include having lived or worked in the UK, and having family in the UK
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How can I claim it?

If you’re eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment, you should receive it automatically from the office that pays your benefits.

However, if any of the following apply, and you haven’t received it before, you will need to claim it:

  • You do not get benefits or a state pension
  • You only get universal credit, housing benefit, council tax reduction or child benefit
  • You get benefits or a state pension but live in Switzerland or an EEA country

Also, if you have deferred your state pension, you will need to claim Winter Fuel Payment – you only need to do this once before the payment becomes automatic.

To claim for the first time by phone, you’ll need your national insurance number, your bank or building society details, your BIC/IBAN numbers if you live in the EEA/Switzerland, and if relevant, the date you were married/entered into a civil partnership.

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Call the Winter Fuel Payment Centre on 0800 731 0160, any time between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday.

You can also claim for the first time by post. 

The deadline for claiming payments for winter 2021 to 2022 is 31 March 2022.

How much money can I get?

How much you get depends on your circumstances during the qualifying week.

For people born between 27 September 1941 and 26 September 1955:

  • You will get £200 if you live alone, or if none of the other people you live with qualify for the allowance.
  • You will get £100 if you live with someone else who qualifies.
  • You will get £100 if you live in a care home and do not get certain benefits.

For people born on or before 26 September 1941

  • You will get £300 if you live alone, or if none of the other people you live with qualify for the allowance.
  • You will get £200 if you live with someone under 80 who also qualifies.
  • You will get £150 if you live with someone 80 or over who also qualifies.
  • You will get £150 if you live in a care home and do not get certain benefits.

Any money you get is tax-free and will not affect your other benefits.

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When is it paid?

Most payments are made automatically between November and December. 

You should get your money by  14 January 2022 at the very latest.

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