The DWP is urging UK households to spend 16 minutes to get £300 (Image: Getty)
UK households are being urged to spend 16 minutes to get a free £300 payment before a .
The () has issued a reminder to pensioners to submit a claim for , which serves as a gateway to get this year’s .
The says it only takes 16 minutes on average to apply for Pension Credit and anyone who makes a successful claim before the deadline of December 21 will receive both backdated Pension Credit and a .
The is worth up to £300 and due to a rule change by Labour this year, an estimated 780,000 pensioners in England and Wales will lose out on the support.
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The government changed the eligibility rules so that households will only qualify for fuel payment if they receive Pension Credit or certain means-tested benefits.
As such, the is urging pensioners to check their eligibility and apply for Pension Credit to ensure they secure their £300 winter payment.
Since July, an extra 42,500 pensioners are now claiming Pension Credit and will get the , and the has now deployed 500 extra staff to process applications as quickly as possible.
The benefit is worth £3,900 per year on average and it opens the door to a wealth of other support, including help with housing costs, Council Tax discounts, a free TV licence, NHS treatment costs and of course the £300 .
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Minister for Pensions Emma Reynolds MP said: “We’re pleased to see more pensioners are now receiving Pension Credit and our staff are processing claims as quickly as possible.
“With the 21 December approaching, my message is clear: check if you are eligible for Pension Credit and if you are then apply, as it unlocks a range of benefits including the .”
Most Winter Fuel Payments are made automatically in November or December and you should get a letter from the telling you how much you’ll get. If you don’t get a letter, or the money hasn’t been paid into your account by January 29, 2025, you should contact the Centre on 0800 731 0160.