£300 top up for winter fuel allowance.

desthemoaner

Thanks for your responses, folks. My own opinion is that the money will be paid to pensioners as late as possible so that the government can keep it in their MSE-recommended easy access account, earning interest for the cash strapped nation right up to the bitterly cold end. From memory of reading the guidance I seem to recall that a date in January is the cut off when people are advised to contact the government to ask where the money is. So late December/ early January seems likely to me, though I hope I'm wrong. 

so_very_confused

Last year I was paid on the 11/11. I tend to agree the government are delaying payment. I don't think they realise how needed this is. It is to help with the cost of living as well as energy. Some pensioners have been struggling for sometime. As for the difficulty of paying this, someone only has to hit a switch hey presto. We are all on computer!

Troytempest

Nothing for MrsT yet - it was also around 11th November last year.....

Rodders53

My WFP was 12th Nov, 3 days after my SP payment.  XBonus £10 on 6th Dec, day before the next SP...  This year Nov SP was 8th Nov and Dec is due on 6th...  Not had either payment yet and it won't come tomorrow (no pending in my Bank a/c).  No idea what all that proves, though 
 
Some suggest they get the WFP and/or XB on the same day as other benefits. So early December for me, perhaps??  Jan 13th 2023 is the date after which one can contact the WFP centre about non-receipt of the money.

I guess I'll have to pay for my 1st Nov Kerosene delivery (paid with a credit card) from savings and replenish them whenever I get the WFP through.

I seriously doubt these conspiracy theories though. DWP et al have an enormously increased  number of  payments to handle at this time of year normally - then add in the 'cost of living' stuff on top.

slowcars

poppy12345 said:

slowcars said:

In my opinion it is reasonable that the £500 Winter Fuel Allowance should be paid when the gas and electric bills are due for payment.

How would that be possible?

Up until recently it has not been that cold. We are all expecting that the larger monthly bills to land on our doorstep will arrive sometime in December onwards. As the allowance is for winter fuel usage it makes complete sense that people get it when the higher bills arrive. I don't understand why people want it earlier.

Rodders53

slowcars said:

As the allowance is for winter fuel usage it makes complete sense that people get it when the higher bills arrive. I don't understand why people want it earlier.

SOME off national gas grid users have to buy fuel in advance of using it - LPG, wood pellets, coal/coke Kerosene or Gas Oil are some examples.

Gas (and electric) on pre-payment meters also need to apply money for their fuel(s) in advance of using it.

Not everyone has credit meters for their fuel(s) !!  

Spoonie_Turtle

Also the £300 is for Cost of Living, not just energy (although for administration it's obviously easier to lump together with WFP as eligibility is the same).

desthemoaner

Spoonie_Turtle said:

Also the £300 is for Cost of Living, not just energy (although for administration it's obviously easier to lump together with WFP as eligibility is the same).

Exactly. The government guidance states that its due from November 17th onwards, but winter doesn't abide by a calendar, that being a human construction. We could get an extremely cold spell at any point, and if the money hasn't been paid when that cold spell comes along, it might persuade some older people to delay putting the heating on and thereby come to serious harm. 

so_very_confused

slowcars said:

poppy12345 said:

slowcars said:

In my opinion it is reasonable that the £500 Winter Fuel Allowance should be paid when the gas and electric bills are due for payment.

How would that be possible?

Up until recently it has not been that cold. We are all expecting that the larger monthly bills to land on our doorstep will arrive sometime in December onwards. As the allowance is for winter fuel usage it makes complete sense that people get it when the higher bills arrive. I don't understand why people want it earlier.

It is for fuel but also general cost of living was my understanding.

poppy12345

so_very_confused said:

slowcars said:

poppy12345 said:

slowcars said:

In my opinion it is reasonable that the £500 Winter Fuel Allowance should be paid when the gas and electric bills are due for payment.

How would that be possible?

Up until recently it has not been that cold. We are all expecting that the larger monthly bills to land on our doorstep will arrive sometime in December onwards. As the allowance is for winter fuel usage it makes complete sense that people get it when the higher bills arrive. I don't understand why people want it earlier.

It is for fuel but also general cost of living was my understanding.

It is for what ever you want to use it for.