£300 help to pensioner household

molerat

Which helpline were you talking to ?

The WFP site clearly states it is relevant to winter 2021-22

Winter 2022-23 has not been thought about yet so those at the bottom end will not have been briefed or can see anything other than what is written on the screen relevant to them, in their eyes why would anyone be talking about next winter when we are not even into summer.  You are expecting government departments to talk to each other and until those responsible for deciding the extra payment talk to those that are responsible for paying it you will not get any sense. The cost of living support factsheet clearly gives Sept 2022.

pochase

molerat said:

Which helpline were you talking to ?

The WFP site clearly states it is relevant to winter 2021-22

Winter 2022-23 has not been thought about yet so those at the bottom end will not have been briefed or can see anything other than what is written on the screen relevant to them, in their eyes why would anyone be talking about next winter when we are not even into summer.  You are expecting government departments to talk to each other and until those responsible for deciding the extra payment talk to those that are responsible for paying it you will not get any sense. The cost of living support factsheet clearly gives Sept 2022.

Good spot, you are completely right, the web site is still the information for the winter 2021 to 2022 as you can see from the second bullet below 

• you were born on or before 26 September 1955
• you lived in the UK for at least one day during the week of 20 to 26 September 2021 - this is called the ‘qualifying week’

So for the winter 2022 to 2023 it should change to "born before 26 September 1956" with qualifying week 20 to 26 September 2022.

Gerry1

molerat said:

Gerry1 said:

molerat said:

Gerry1 said:

The OP is correct.

"Mr Sunak announced a one-off payment of £300 to pensioners who are receiving the winter fuel allowance.

"The payment is on top of the usual winter fuel allowance, which is an annual one-off payment to help pensioners pay for heating during the winter months - the allowance is usually between £100 and £300

"You can get the payment if you were born on or before September 26, 1955."

Source: https://www.itv.com/news/2022-05-26/what-new-help-has-been-offered-by-sunak-to-help-with-the-cost-of-living-crisis

Another glaring error by the press

I would rather believe the horse's mouth and not someone who has copy and pasted something without actually reading and understanding it.

No need to be gratuitously offensive: I did read the article and I did understand it.

The ITV News article is referring to the Winter Fuel Payment,  It even gives the link to the 'horse's mouth': https://www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment

If you follow the link that ITV News gave, you'll see that the government website does indeed state "If you were born on or before 26 September 1955 you could get between £100 and £300 to help you pay your heating bills.".

So if you get the Winter Fuel Payment, then you will also get the One-off £300 Pensioner Cost of Living Payment.

Hope that helps.

I was referring to the press article being copy and paste from  the outdated .gov  WFA page, which does refer to winter 2021-22,  without actually reading and understanding or using the up to date factsheet

You're forgiven !

Vegastare

this is where the confusion  came in on fact sheet link on here yesterday posted by one of you.

• The Winter Fuel Payment (including the extra Pensioner Cost of Living Payment) is not taxable and does not affect eligibility for other benefits.
• All pensioner households will get the one-off Pensioner Cost of Living Payment as a top-up to their annual Winter Fuel Payment in November/December. For most pensioner households, this will be paid by direct debit.
• People will be eligible for this payment if they are over State Pension age (aged 66 or above) between 19 – 25 September 2022. There are certain circumstances where an individual above State Pension age does not qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment which can be found here on gov.uk [https://www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/eligibility

the link then goes back to previous year.

PennyForThem_2

I was under the impression that only pensioners on warm home discount and/or getting pension credit got the bonus.  I was amazed and dismayed to read that those getting WFA (I get £300) were getting double that in Autumn.

I am very lucky but also prudent - I get WFA - I buy wood for my wood burner but it is NOT an essential so I am a bit dismayed I will be getting double that especially as I am on a fixed deal until May 23.  

I understand why this is broad brush but also feel intuitively this should have been more nuanced.  The underlying cause, I suspect, is out-dated, legacy tech.  

My advice to gov - update it!

pochase

The link goes to the most up to date information. They have not prepared any newer information.

Vegastare

Just to draw a line under my previous post and asking for thoughts on clarity, happy to say contacted the appropriate department and  yes I will qualify for both.

As some of you mentioned things might not have been clear early after the Chancellors Statement.