Exact date you must apply for pension credit by to receive £300 winter fuel pay payment – check if you could be eligible

HOUSEHOLDS person to use for a authorities payment by a definite day if they privation to suffice for this year's Winter Fuel Payment.

The Winter Fuel Payment was antecedently disposable to everyone aged 66 and above, the existent State Pension age.

But successful July the Government announced the payment would go means-tested meaning lone those connected definite benefits are eligible.

This includes those connected income support, tax credits and Universal Credit, but besides Pension Credit.

To suffice for this year's Winter Fuel Payment, you indispensable person an progressive assertion for 1 of the qualifying benefits during what's known arsenic the "qualifying week" - this twelvemonth that's from September 16 to 22.

Therefore, you would expect that the deadline to assertion Pension Credit to suffice for the Winter Fuel Payment was this Sunday.

However, claims for Pension Credit tin successful information beryllium backdated by up to 3 months.

It means the actual, final, deadline you person to use for Pension Credit by successful bid to get the Winter Fuel Payment is December 21.

If you don't use for Pension Credit by this date, you won't suffice for this year's £300.

It's worthy bearing successful caput that the magnitude you get for the Winter Fuel Payment varies depending connected your age.

If you are aged betwixt 66 and 79 you volition get £200 portion those aged 80 oregon implicit volition person £300.

What is Pension Credit and who is eligible?

Pension Credit is simply a authorities payment designed to apical up your play income if you are a authorities pensioner with debased earnings.

The current state pension age is 66.

There are 2 parts to the payment - Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit.

Guarantee Credit tops up your play income to £218.15 if you are azygous oregon your associated play income to £332.95 if you person a partner.

Savings Credit is other money you get if you person immoderate savings oregon your income is supra the basal afloat authorities pension magnitude - £169.50.

Savings Credit is lone disposable to radical who reached authorities pension property earlier April 6, 2016.

Usually, you lone suffice for Pension Credit if your income is beneath the £218.15 oregon £332.95 thresholds.

However, you tin sometimes beryllium eligible for Savings Credit oregon Guarantee Credit depending connected your circumstances.

For example, if you are suffering from a terrible disability and claiming Attendance Allowance, arsenic good arsenic different benefits, you tin get an other £81.50 a week.

Meanwhile, you tin get either £66.29 a week oregon £76.79 a week for each kid you're liable and caring for.

The rules down who qualifies for Pension Credit tin beryllium complicated, truthful the champion happening to bash is conscionable check.

You tin bash this by utilizing the Government's Pension Credit calculator connected its website.

Or, you tin telephone the Pension Service helpline connected 0800 99 1234 from 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

Those in Northern Ireland have to telephone the Pension Centre connected 0808 100 6165 from 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday.

It mightiness beryllium worthy a sojourn to your section Citizens Advice subdivision excessively - its unit should beryllium capable to connection you assistance for free.

One further and large perk of Pension Credit is that it is known arsenic a "gateway" payment successful that it opens up a big of different freebies and perks.

This includes a escaped TV licence worthy £169.50 a year if you are 75 oregon implicit and council tax discounts.

If you are connected the Guarantee Credit portion of Pension Credit, you besides suffice for the Warm Home Discount.

Do you person a wealth occupation that needs sorting? Get successful interaction by emailing [email protected].

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