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HUNDREDS of struggling pensioners could person a one-off voucher worthy £100 to assistance with their vigor bills this winter.
It follows the government's determination to marque winter substance payments means-tested.
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The Older Adults Winter Support programme by Peterborough City Council is aimed to assistance astir 1,000 of the astir susceptible pensioners successful the area.
The scheme, which is funded by the Household Support Fund, volition beryllium accepting applications until March.
To beryllium eligible, applicants indispensable beryllium aged 65 oregon implicit and unrecorded unsocial oregon with different idiosyncratic aged 65 oregon over.
They indispensable person a household income of little than £320 per week, with savings of £10,000 oregon little - with impervious provided.
And they indispensable not beryllium eligible for Pension Credit.
To use for the scheme, which is tally successful concern with Age UK, pensioners should interaction the charity's Cambridgeshire and Peterborough branch.
The foundation volition past measure each claim, and suggest alternate forms of wintertime enactment if applicable.
Labour councillor Alison Jones said: "With wintertime conscionable astir the corner, we wanted to bash thing to specifically assistance older radical who whitethorn beryllium struggling and feeling susceptible close now."
Many different councils astir the state are utilizing the Household Support Fund to springiness one-off payments to susceptible pensioners.
For example, Norfolk County Council is giving retired £120 to eligible applicants.
Fuel work hike is treble stroke aft Winter Fuel Payment loss, says pensioner
Charities are besides giving retired gadgets specified arsenic air-fryers and heated blankets to assistance those struggling with vigor bills.
Labour's determination to scrap wintertime substance payments was announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves earlier this year.
However, the enactment volition inactive beryllium disposable to those connected definite benefits - including Pension Credit, income support, taxation credits and Universal Credit.
How has the Household Support Fund evolved?
The Household Support Fund was archetypal launched successful October 2021 to assistance Brits wage their mode done wintertime amid the outgo of surviving crisis.
Councils up and down the state got a portion of the £421million backing disposable to crockery retired to Brits successful need.
It was past extended for a 2nd clip successful the 2022 Spring Budget and for a 3rd clip successful October 2022 to assistance those connected the lowest incomes with the rising outgo of living.
The DWP past confirmed a 4th hold of the scheme done to March 31, 2024.
Former chancellor Jeremy Hunt extended the HSF for the 5th clip portion delivering his Spring Budget connected March 6, 2024.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) precocious confirmed that eligible households volition person payments from November done to December.
To use for the Older Adults Winter Support, telephone 01733 564 185 oregon email [email protected].
What is the Winter Fuel Payment?
Consumer reporter Sam Walker explains each you request to cognize astir the payment.
The Winter Fuel Payment is an yearly tax-free payment designed to assistance screen the outgo of heating done the colder months.
Most who are eligible person the outgo automatically.
Those who suffice are usually told via a missive sent successful October oregon November each year.
If you bash conscionable the criteria but don't automatically get the Winter Fuel Payment, you volition person to apply on the government's website.
You'll suffice for a Winter Fuel Payment this wintertime if:
- you were calved connected oregon earlier September 23, 1958
- you lived successful the UK for astatine slightest 1 time during the week of September 16 to 22, 2024, known arsenic the "qualifying week"
- you receive Pension Credit, Universal Credit, ESA, JSA, Income Support, Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit
If you did not unrecorded successful the UK during the qualifying week, you mightiness inactive get the outgo if some the pursuing apply:
- you unrecorded successful Switzerland oregon a EEA country
- you person a "genuine and sufficient" nexus with the UK societal information system, specified arsenic having lived oregon worked successful the UK and having a household successful the UK
But determination are exclusions - you can’t get the outgo if you unrecorded successful Cyprus, France, Gibraltar, Greece, Malta, Portugal or Spain.
This is due to the fact that the mean wintertime somesthesia is higher than the warmest portion of the UK.
You volition besides not suffice if you:
- are successful infirmary getting escaped attraction for much than a year
- need support to participate the UK and your granted permission states that you tin not assertion nationalist funds
- were successful situation for the full "qualifying week"
- lived successful a attraction location for the full clip betwixt 26 June to 24 September 2023, and got Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance oregon income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Payments are usually made betwixt November and December, with immoderate made up until the extremity of January the pursuing year.
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