PENSIONER WINTER FUEL PAYMENTS 2022/23

cwtch39

I am one of the "Waspi" women. Since having to retire seven years ago I have been receiving a reduced works pension (employed for over 40+ years but had to go part time for some time due to family illness). I live alone now and am not in receipt of any benefits. I have worked since I left school and have never been unemployed.

I reached my 66th birthday on the 30th September and have recently received my first state pension payment. However, as I understand it, the cutoff date for the winter fuel allowance is five days prior to my birthday! A double whammy in the circumstance!

I've made substantial contributions during my lifetime - can you blame me for thinking I've been treated unfairly?

Any advice would be appreciated - perhaps I'm missing out on something?

poppy12345

Whether it's unfair or not, unfortunately it's the rules and there's nothing you can do.

Spoonie_Turtle

Every pensioner is either the right side or the wrong side of the cutoff date.  There will be many people who missed out by a few days - unfortunately that's the way of every single cutoff date in life.  The WFP is not a contributary or income-based payment, so you haven't just fallen short of NI contributions or just come a few pennies over an income threshold, it's just pure misfortune to have been born a few days too late for this cutoff date.  Nothing personal by any means, and nothing you could ever have done differently to change it.  It is what it is.

Bea63

Hi, I've had a letter which states you qualify for the payment if you had reached 66 by 25th September 2022 ..i don't know where they (the Gov/DWP) decide these dates ..any ideas anyone?

calcotti

Bea63 said:

Hi, I've had a letter which states you qualify for the payment if you had reached 66 by 25th September 2022 ..i don't know where they (the Gov/DWP) decide these dates ..any ideas anyone?

There has to be a day. It's the same date every year (plus or minus a few days) - possibly it's the last Sunday of September. 

p00hsticks

Bea63 said:

Hi, I've had a letter which states you qualify for the payment if you had reached 66 by 25th September 2022 ..i don't know where they (the Gov/DWP) decide these dates ..any ideas anyone?

It's in the original legislation from when the Winter Fuel Payment was first introduced in 2000 - 'qualifying week” means in respect of any year the week beginning on the third Monday in the September of that year'  

So this year the 'qualifying week' was the week of 19th-25th September. If you meet the eligibity conditions on any day that week then you qualify for the payment. The original 2000 legislation can be found here, although note that there will have been subsequent amendments to that oroginal legislation to (off the top of my head) align the qualification age (orginally 60) to State Pension age and also to not allow payments to those living in certain (warmer) countries abroad.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2000/729/made

Revisions to the original legislation can be tracked here

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2000/729

calcotti

Thanks p00hsticks - I couldn't be bothered to seek the relevant regs when I posted!

Typical legislation to refer to a qualifying week rather than specifying a qualifying day.