Three reasons why you could be asked to pay back Winter Fuel Payment by DWP – and how to avoid falling foul of rules

HOUSEHOLDS eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment whitethorn person to wage immoderate oregon each of it backmost for 3 peculiar reasons.

The up to £300 outgo is being made to those connected definite benefits this winter to screen the other outgo of energy implicit the colder months.

It was antecedently disposable to each state pensioners but the Government has present made the yearly outgo means-tested.

The changes by Chancellor Rachel Reeves mean that astir 10million aged 66 oregon implicit volition nary longer person the benefit.

But determination whitethorn beryllium different circumstances wherever you person the Winter Fuel Payment this fiscal twelvemonth and person to repay immoderate oregon each of it backmost to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

The Government's guidance states that you person to wage it backmost if you did not study a alteration of circumstances consecutive away.

For example, if you moved code oregon stopped receiving a payment that qualified you for the payment.

You could besides beryllium docked the outgo if you gave the incorrect accusation retired successful your exertion specified arsenic the incorrect age.

Or, you whitethorn person to wage it backmost if you were overpaid by the DWP by mistake.

It's important that you archer the DWP of immoderate changes successful your idiosyncratic circumstances and marque definite you participate your idiosyncratic details correctly arsenic it tin interaction your eligibility for the Winter Fuel Payment.

You tin bash this by contacting the Winter Fuel Payment Centre connected 0800 731 0160 oregon +44 (0)191 218 7777 if you're extracurricular the UK.

Who is eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment?

It is worthy taking enactment of the eligibility criteria for this year's Winter Fuel Payment arsenic if a alteration successful circumstances means you autumn extracurricular of it, you volition request to interaction the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.

You suffice for a Winter Fuel Payment for Winter 24/25 if you were calved earlier September 23, 1958.

If you unrecorded unsocial and were calved betwixt September 23, 1944, and September 22, 1958 you volition get £200.

You volition person £300 if you were calved earlier September 23, 1944.

If you and your spouse jointly assertion immoderate of the benefits, 1 of you volition get a outgo of either:

• £200 if 1 oregon some of you were calved betwixt September 23 1944 and September 22 1958
• £300 if 1 oregon some of you were calved earlier September 23 1944

You indispensable besides unrecorded successful England oregon Wales and get 1 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

You’ll besides request to person been getting a payment during the qualifying week of September 16 to 22, 2024.

In immoderate circumstances, you mightiness beryllium eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment if you unrecorded abroad, for illustration if you unrecorded in:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• Germany
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Sweden
• Switzerland

You aren't eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment if you unrecorded successful Scotland oregon person been successful infirmary getting escaped attraction for much than a year.

You besides don't suffice if were successful prison for the full of the week of September 16 to 22, 2024, oregon you were surviving successful a attraction location for the from June 24 to September 22, 2024.

You volition suffice for a Winter Fuel Payment if you person lived successful a attraction location for little than 13 weeks including the week of September 16 to 22, 2024, though.

Hundreds of thousands of households are not claiming Pension Credit which could suffice them for this year's Winter Fuel Payment.

You tin usage this benefits checker made successful concern with poorness charity Turn2Us to spot if you're eligible.

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

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