Free cash for EVERYONE over 60. Claim your winter fuel payment now!

Former_MSE_Archna

Updated Apr 09

What's this about?

Every household with someone aged over 60 in it is entitled to the Govt’s winter fuel payment to help offset high fuel costs. You can claim until 30 March for the preceeding Winter (and to register for future years).

Those over 60 will get a tax free £250 lump sum and those over 80 will get £400.

UPDATE 22 APR - The budget announced today that last year's payments of £250 (over 60s) and £400 (over 80s) will be given for the 09/10 Winter. You can only apply for it from August 09 though.

What to do

If you were aged 60 or over on or before 23 September 2007, you should get a payment. If you were receiving a state pension or any other social security benefits in the week of 17-23 September 2007 you should get your payment automatically.

If you haven't, or that doesn't apply to you, you can download a claim form from The Pension Service site. The cash will be paid directly into your account or will be sent to you as a cheque or payable order.

Couples will get half the amount, eg. £125 each if you're both over 60 or £200 each if you're both over 80.

People who can't get a winter fuel payment


Unfortunately you can't get a winter fuel payment if:

• You're in hospital getting free treatment and have been in hospital for 52 weeks.
• In custody serving a sentence
• Subject to immigration control and not eligible for help from the Department for Work and Pensions
• Living in a care home.

Claim backdated payment for past winters

Winter fuel payments were introduced in winter 1997/1998. While you can't claim backdated payments for anything since 2001, you can claim for winters between 1997 and 2000. For more information on how to claim for past winters see The Pensions Services website.

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sig_ma

Since the recent budget announcement over sixties now get £250 ( up £50 ) and the over eighties £400 (up £100 ).

Poppycat

That's correct but this may be only a one-off increase it hasnt been mentioned that it will be every year

sig_ma wrote: »

Since the recent budget announcement over sixties now get £250 ( up £50 ) and the over eighties £400 (up £100 ).

Errata

I had no idea residents in care homes were excluded from this largesse, and I'll make darn sure I'll continue to have no idea.

Poppycat

margaret that's basically what I was implying "this may be only a one-off increase it hasnt been mentioned that it will be every year" one year only unless they change there minds. Fuel isn't going to go down thats for certain

margaretclare wrote: »

No, it was definitely stated that the extra £50 was for this year only.

Margaret

expatsdiandjohn

my wife and i live in Spain 3000feet above sea level. It gets very cold in the winter today being only 7degrees. My wife is in receipt of a full old age pension, but does not qualify for winter fuel allowance because her pension started after we left UK. The double whammy is we both still pay tax on our pensions in the UK, and this is about to double thanks to the chancellor abolishing the 10p band. Just to add insult to injury we are not allowed to have tax free ISA's because we have no UK address. Life is not all sunshine in Spain.

mardatha

my husband is 61 and gets the £200. What happens when I turn 60, do we get the same or more ?

margaretclare

mardatha wrote: »

my husband is 61 and gets the £200. What happens when I turn 60, do we get the same or more ?

You'll get £100 each, or, for this year only, £125 each.

Margaret

hollyblue

My mum only just turned 60 a couple of weeks agoa nd my dad wont be 60 until August. Can my mum make a claim for this winter just gone? If so, does the claim need to be in before 30th March?

Thanks for your help

Errata

hollyblue wrote: »

My mum only just turned 60 a couple of weeks agoa nd my dad wont be 60 until August. Can my mum make a claim for this winter just gone? If so, does the claim need to be in before 30th March?

Thanks for your help

No - it is for those aged 60 or over on or before 23 September 2007. Full details in the first post in this thread.

EdInvestor

expatsdiandjohn wrote: »

The double whammy is we both still pay tax on our pensions in the UK, and this is about to double thanks to the chancellor abolishing the 10p band.

If you are resident full time in Spain you should be paying Spanish, not UK tax.