Winter Fuel Payments

• Introduction
• Eligibility
• Payment Amounts
• Those not entitled to a winter fuel payment
• Further Information

Introduction

• Winter fuel payments were introduced by the Government from the winter of 1997/1998 and extended to most men and women from 2000/2001 to assist those aged over 60 with their heating costs over the winter months.
• Winter fuel payments are not means tested.
• Most UK residents aged over 60 during the qualifying week, and normally resident in the United Kingdom will be entitled to a winter fuel payment which will be paid automatically and usually by Christmas.
• The winter fuel payment will not affect your entitlement to other benefits, you do not need to be in receipt of the state pension, and there is no need to pay income tax on it.
• It is possible to make a backdated claim for the winters of 1997/1998, 1998/1999 and 1999/2000 by completing the form provided in the attached files section at the bottom of the page.
• If you wish to make a backdated claim for any winter after 2001 then please contact the Winter Fuel Payments helpline using the details provided at the bottom of the page.
• The deadline for claims for the winter of 2006/2007 was 30 March 2007, if you think that you should have received a payment then please contact the Winter Fuel Payments Helpline on 08459 15 15 15 ensuring that you have your National Insurance Number to hand when you call.

Eligibility

In order to be eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment you must be:

• Aged over 60
  • In the qualifying week, which in 2006 was 18 - 24 September
• Normally resident in Great Britain or Northern Ireland

Payment Amounts

• An annual payment
• £100 or £200 for those aged 60 - 79 depending on circumstances
• £50 extra payable to those aged over 80
• Paid over a number of weeks from early November
• Couples receiving pension credit or income based job seekers' allowance will receive one payment
• Other couples will receive £100 each if both are entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment

Those not entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment

• Those in hospital receiving free inpatient care
• Those in custody serving a prison sentence
• Those subject to immigration control
• Those in receipt of income based Job Seekers' Allowance or Pension Credit and who are living in:
  • A care home
  • An independent hospital
  • Ilford Park Polish Resettlement Home

Further Information

For further information on Winter Fuel Payments or if you need to:

• Obtain a claim form for winter fuel payments
• Inform of a change in your circumstances

Please contact the Winter Fuel Payments helpline on 08459 15 15 15 or on 0845 601 5613 for textphone users. Lines are open from 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday.

Further information is also provided in the document WFLP1 - Your Guide to Winter Fuel Payments - which is located in the attached files section at the bottom of the page.

Further information can also be obtained by following the link to the Pension Service website provided in the external links section at the bottom of the page.

Attached Files

Filename	Filetype	Size
your guide to winter fuel payments.pdf	PDF	360K
winter fuel payment claim form for past winters.pdf	PDF	112K
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Useful External Links

The following links are not part of the Haringey Council website. Please read our legal disclaimer before using these links

• The Pension Service

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