What is it for?
To help you pay for fuel costs over the Winter months.
Do I need to be on benefits?
No. The Government will make Winter Fuel Payments to most people aged 60 or over for winter 2010/11
If you are aged 60* (see below for changes to pension age) to 79 and you are entitled to receive a Winter Fuel Payment, this year you will get either £125 or £250, depending on your circumstances in the qualifying week (20 to 26 September 2010). Once you have received a Winter Fuel payment it should be paid to you automatically every year.
If you are aged 80 or over and you are entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment, this year you will either £200 or £400, depending on your circumstances in the qualifying week.
If you need to make a claim for a payment for winter 2010/2011 you should return your claim form on or before 31 March 2011.
*In line with changes to State Pension age for women, the qualifying age for Winter Fuel Payments will rise gradually between 2010 and 2020, from 60 to 65. This means that from winter 2010/11 onwards, both men and women will need to have reached women's State Pension age by the end of the September qualifying week
Do I have to pay it back?
No
You cannot get a Winter Fuel Payment if you are serving a custodial sentence, have been in hospital for over 52 weeks in the qualifying week or if you are in residential care.
For more information about winter fuel payments, visit the Pension Service website
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Information Provider:
Manchester Addvice
Date Reviewed:
22 June 2010
This information is for guidance only and is not an authoritative statement on the law. Please read our Terms and Conditions.
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