Pensioners have till the tip of Saturday to use for advantages which may unlock entry to the winter gasoline cost, or threat lacking out on as much as £300.
It has been switched to a means-tested profit together with for these on pension credit score, however official estimates counsel there are 760,000 households who don’t declare pension credit score.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves determined to scrap the common entitlement to a winter gasoline cost, blaming a monetary black gap inherited from the earlier Conservative authorities.
Ms Reeves stated the change would save the Treasury round £1.4bn this monetary yr.
Winter Gasoline Fee: Uncover in case you are eligible?
The variety of pensioners receiving the cost is predicted to fall by round 10 million, from 11.4 million to 1.5 million.
These born earlier than 23 September 1958 can obtain a £200 or £300 cost in the event that they obtain pension credit score or different key advantages together with common credit score, little one or working tax credit score, or jobseeker’s allowance.
Pension credit score tops up weekly incomes to £218.15 for a single pensioner or £332.95 for a joint weekly revenue for these with a associate.
The deadline to qualify for the 2024/25 winter gasoline cost is 11.59pm on Saturday for on-line purposes.
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The Division for Work and Pensions (DWP) has additionally stated that declare telephone traces can be open on Saturday till 3.15pm.
The federal government has deployed round 500 extra workers to assist processing purposes.
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September: Clashes at PMQs over winter gasoline pay cuts
However charities have been scathing concerning the choice to reform the cost. When the modifications had been first introduced In September, Age UK stated: “We just don’t think it’s fair to remove the payment from the 2.5 million pensioners on low incomes who badly need it.”
A authorities spokesperson stated: “Over one million pensioners will still receive the winter fuel payment, and our drive to boost pension credit take-up has seen applications more than double with over 40,000 more pensioners now receiving it, as well as the winter fuel payment.”
The winter gasoline cost is a devolved matter for Scotland, in addition to Northern Eire the place a one-off £100 cost can be made by the tip of March 2025 to all pensioner households who’ve had their winter gasoline funds eliminated.
In November, the Scottish authorities introduced it might apply its personal scheme for winter 2025/26 for these on eligible advantages.
