The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is set to notify millions of households about a £150 boost to help them through the winter months. Households expecting to receive the Warm Home Discount this winter are advised to keep an eye out for these letters.
The scheme re-opens in October, and payments are distributed from November and applied to people’s bills automatically in most instances.
Elderly individuals will qualify for the discount if they or their partner are recipients of the Guarantee Credit portion of Pension Credit. They may also be eligible for the support if they receive the Savings Credit portion of Pension Credit, Universal Credit or Housing Benefit.
In addition to pensioners, households with low incomes and high energy costs could also stand to gain from this scheme. This includes those who receive either Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit, with income that falls below a certain threshold.
Most qualifying households should expect to receive a letter between November and January informing them of their eligibility.
People should be on the lookout for the letter and payment if they are eligible, as there is usually only a small window to notify the Warm Home Discount scheme if the payment has not been applied to bills.
The Government has confirmed that the Warm Home Discount will return this winter, amidst controversy over the reduction of the Winter Fuel Payment eligibility criteria.
Now, fewer pensioner households will qualify for the support, worth up to £300 a year, in a move to reduce spending and fill a “£22billion hole” in the nation’s finances.
The Winter Fuel Payment is now only available to those who were born before September 23, 1958. They must also live in England or Wales and get one of the following:
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income Support
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit.
It’s thought that as many as 880,000 more state pensioners qualify for the Pension Credit benefit but aren’t claiming. The support works to “top-up” the state pension and is worth an average of £3,900 a year.
It also opens doors to other means of support, including a free TV licence and Council Tax discounts.
And while energy bills remain high, claiming Pension Credit could result in up to £450 worth of savings when combining the Warm Home Discount and Winter Fuel Payment.
People can use the Government’s Pension Credit calculator to check their eligibility. To then apply for the benefit, people can reach the helpline by telephone on 0800 99 1234 or by textphone on 0800 169 0133. They can also apply online here.
