Retirees will start getting up to £600 in their bank accounts from today to help pay their energy bills.
More than 11.6 million pensioners will receive their Winter Fuel Payments over the next two months.
This year’s payments have been increased by £300 for each Household Pensioner’s Expense of Living payment.
Most payments will be automatic and anyone who has not received a payment by January 13 should contact the government’s Winter Fuel Payments Centre.
Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride said ministers “want to do everything they can to support pensioners, who often face higher costs”.
“That’s why we’re giving all retirement households an extra £300 in addition to their Winter Fuel Payment to heat their homes and stay warm this winter,” he said. speak.
“This additional payment is just part of a broader package of support we are offering to help pay the rising bills, including the largest state pension increase in history.”
The payment will appear with a reference starting with the person’s National Insurance number followed by ‘DWP WFP’ for those in the UK or ‘DFC WFP’ for those in Northern Ireland.
Meanwhile, families claiming legacy benefits like tax credits will also begin receiving a second grant. Cost of living Payment from today.
It will be paid automatically between today and next Wednesday as part of the government’s £37 billion cost-of-living package.
The £324 payment, the final installment of the £650 announced by Rishi Sunak earlier this year, has been paid out to most Universal Credit claimants since November 8.
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How to save money on energy bills
More than seven million payments worth £324 have been made, including pensioners receiving Pension Credit.
The average Pension Credit bonus is worth more than £3,500 a year and for those who have not yet signed up, there is still time as claims can be pushed back up to three months.
To ensure the claim falls within the eligibility period, pensioners are being encouraged to apply as soon as possible and no later than December 18.
An online Retirement Credit Calculator is available to help check eligibility and estimate likely prizes.
Now it’s the turn of those who have not yet switched to Universal Credit.
HMRC’s Angela MacDonald said: “This second cost-of-living payment will provide additional financial support to claimants claiming only eligible tax credits across the UK.
“The £324 will be automatically paid into the bank account, so people don’t need to do anything to get this extra help.”
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Hunt to keep a three-lock pension
With this payment, more than eight million households will receive the extra cash boost by November 30.
The first payments are made to eligible families in July and September.
The extra cost of living support, to be paid next year, was announced by Prime Minister Jeremy Hunt in his recent speech. autumn declaration.
It includes an extra £300 for pensioners, £900 for vehicle-tested benefit households and £150 for disability benefit recipients.
It has also been confirmed that retirees will receive 10.1% increase for state pension since April, after Mr. Hunt confirmed that the triple lock is under protection.
The brand new state pension is currently £185.15 a week, so a 10.1% increase would push that to £203.85.
For old basic pensioners, who reached state pension age before April 2016, that means an increase from £141.85 to £156.20.
The triple key is normally used to calculate state pension increases, but has been temporarily suspended due to the distorting impact of the pandemic.
