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 (20-26 September 2010), 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.
• It is not possible to make backdated claims for 2000/01 to 2009/10 as claims for these winters would need to have been made by the following March.

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Eligibility

In order to be eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment for the coming winter (2010/2011) you must have been born before 5 July 1950. This is because the qualifying age is rising in line with the qualifying age for the state pension.

You must also normally live in Great Britain or Northern Ireland on any day in the qualifying week of 20-26 September 2010.

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Payment amounts

The amount of Winter Fuel Payment that you can get is dependent on your personal circumstances, however in general those born before 5 July 1950 will receive £250 and those aged over 80 on or before 26 September 2010 will receive £400.

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Those not entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment

• Those in hospital receiving free in-patient 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

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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 151515 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.

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Attached Files

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