What has happened?
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has recently announced that government intends to withdraw the Winter Fuel Allowance for certain pensioners.
What is the Winter Fuel Payment?
Winter Fuel Payment is a government benefit intended to help with heating bills. The benefit is worth from £100 to £300 a year. How much you get varies depending on factors such as when you were born and which benefits you claim.
Last winter due to the cost-of-living crisis the normal payments were also topped up by an additional £300.
What is changing?
The chancellor has said she wants to stop all pensioners getting Winter Fuel Payment and will instead restrict it to those who get benefits such as Pension Credit.
She has yet to announce the full details of the benefits that qualify for the new Winter Fuel Payments.
The devolved governments in Scotland and Northern Ireland will need to make a decision whether to follow the new policy.
What is Pension Credit?
Pension Credit can provide you with extra money to help with your living costs if you’re over your State Pension age and on a low income. Pension Credit can also help with housing costs such as ground rent or service charges.
You might get extra help if you’re a carer, severely disabled, or responsible for a child or young person.
If you're 75 or over and you receive Pension Credit you can also claim a free TV licence. It'll cover you and anyone you live with, regardless of their age.
Pension Credit is separate from your State Pension, and you might be able to claim it even if you have other income, savings, or own your own home.
For more information, please access our Pension Credit leaflet here.
You can apply yourself by phone on 0800 99 1234, claim pension credit online or get a form to do it by post. A friend or family member can apply on behalf of an elderly person.
Age UK staff will also help with applications. If you call its free helpline, they will check you are getting all benefits you are entitled to, including pension credit. Any older person struggling with bills, or friends and family who are concerned about them, can call 0800 169 65 65.
This line is open every day of the year between 8am and 7pm, or you can visit Age UK's help page here.
Age UK also has a free, anonymous benefits calculator which can provide an estimate of what you could be entitled to.
Pension Credit is not paid automatically. A report from government last year claimed that up to 850,000 eligible households were missing out on these benefits-make sure you are not one of them.
