Ameer Randolph
The Winter Fuel Payment is an annual, tax-free payment of between £100 and £300 designed to help with heating costs during the winter months. It is available to those born before 23 September 1958 who live in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland, and receive at least one of the following benefits: Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Income Support, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Child Tax Credit, or Working Tax Credit. Those living in care homes are still eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment, but there are specific conditions that may impact their eligibility. For instance, individuals in care homes who receive Pension Credit, Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, or Income-related Employment and Support Allowance may not qualify. Additionally, residing in a care home for the entire period from 24 June to 22 September could affect eligibility.
Winter Fuel Allowance for Care Home Residents
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | People born before 23 September 1958 who live in a care home are eligible for Winter Fuel Payment. |
| Location | Eligibility is restricted to those living in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland. People living in Scotland are not eligible but may receive a similar payment from the Scottish Government. |
| Benefits | Residents receiving Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, or income-related Employment and Support Allowance are ineligible. |
| Time Frame | Eligibility is determined by the resident's status during the "qualifying week" of 16 to 22 September 2024. |
| Payment Amount | The payment amount varies from £100 to £300, depending on individual circumstances. |
| Payment Method | Payments are made automatically to eligible individuals. In some cases, care homes may request that the payment be made directly to them to cover heating costs. |
| Contact | For inquiries, the Winter Fuel Payment Centre can be reached at 0800 731 0160 (UK) or +44 (0) 191 218 7777 (outside the UK). |
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What You'll Learn
Eligibility for Winter Fuel Payment in care homes
The Winter Fuel Payment is an annual, tax-free payment ranging from £100 to £300 to help with heating costs during the winter months. It is provided by The Pensions Service.
If you live in a care home, you can still get the Winter Fuel Payment. However, you will not be eligible if you meet the following criteria:
- You receive Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), or income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
- You lived in a care home for the whole time from 24 June to 22 September 2024.
If you receive Pension Credit, you will not be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment. If you are in receipt of Pension Credit, your Winter Fuel Payment will be paid automatically.
If you live in a care home and do not receive Pension Credit or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance, you may be eligible for a reduced payment of £150.
It is important to note that eligibility for the Winter Fuel Payment is based on your circumstances during the "qualifying week", which is typically in September. For example, for the 2024 to 2025 payment, the qualifying week was 16 to 22 September 2024.
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How to claim Winter Fuel Payment
To claim the Winter Fuel Payment, you must meet the qualifying conditions. For the 2024/2025 winter, you must have been born before 23 September 1958 and live in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland. You must also have been receiving one of the following benefits during the qualifying week of 16 to 22 September 2024: Pension Credit, Universal Credit, income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), Income Support, Child Tax Credit, or Working Tax Credit.
If you live in Scotland, you may be eligible for a similar payment from the Scottish Government. This will be paid by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). If you live abroad, you may still be eligible, but you will need to claim.
Most people who are eligible will receive the Winter Fuel Payment automatically. You will get it automatically when your claim for Pension Credit is approved. If you have applied for Pension Credit but have not received a decision yet, you do not need to contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre about your eligibility. Call the Winter Fuel Payment Centre if you are unsure if you are eligible. You cannot make a claim by phone.
If you receive Universal Credit, you should claim through your journal. You will receive a message explaining how to claim. You can also fill in a Winter Fuel Payment claim form for UK residents and send it to the Winter Fuel Payment Centre. You can claim by post, but you will need to provide your national insurance number, the date of your marriage or civil partnership, and your bank details. You will also need to specify whether, during the qualifying week, you were in hospital, residential care, or in prison.
The deadline to apply for pension credit in time to receive the Winter Fuel Payment is 21 December 2024. For the winter of 2024/2025, claims must be sent and arrive by 31 March 2025. If you do not receive a letter or payment by 29 January 2025, contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.
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Winter Fuel Payment rates
The Winter Fuel Payment is an annual, tax-free payment to help with heating costs during the colder months. The amount you get is based on when you were born and your circumstances during the qualifying week of 16 to 22 September of the year preceding the payment. This is called the 'qualifying week'.
For the winter of 2024-2025, you may be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment if you were born before 23 September 1958 and lived in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland. You must also have received one of the following benefits during the qualifying week:
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income Support
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
If you are over 80, you could get £300 to help with your bills in winter. Otherwise, you could get £200. Payments are made to the person claiming the benefit and are for the household.
You are not entitled to the Winter Fuel Payment if you live in a care home or nursing home during the period from 24 June to 22 September of the year preceding the payment.
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Warm Home Discount
The Warm Home Discount is a one-off payment of £150 to help with the cost of energy during the winter. It is designed to help those living on a low income or pension. The money is not paid directly to individuals but is instead subtracted from electricity bills between October and March. If your supplier provides your gas and electricity, you may be able to get this discount on your gas bill. If you use a prepayment or pay-as-you-go meter, you will likely be given a top-up voucher.
The Warm Home Discount scheme was reformed for the winter of 2022/2023, meaning that even if you weren’t previously eligible, you could be now. The discount is aimed at older adults and people on low incomes with high energy costs.
There are two groups in Scotland that are eligible for the Warm Home Discount. These are the core group and the broader group. You or your partner will be classed as part of the core group if either of you receives the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit. You or your partner also have to be named on the energy bill and your energy supplier needs to be partnered with the scheme. You’ll be a part of the broader group if you live in a low-income household but you don’t receive Pension Credit.
In England and Wales, there are also two core groups that are eligible for the Warm Home Discount scheme. You or your partner will be classed as part of core group 1 if either of you receives the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit. You could be eligible as part of the second core group if you receive one of the following benefits: Income Support, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Universal Credit, or Child Tax Credits. If you fall within core group 2, receiving one of these qualifying benefits does not mean you will definitely qualify for the Warm Home Discount. Your energy supplier will check to see if you are within the most fuel-poor households category.
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Cold Weather Payment
You will receive a payment of £25 for each 7-day period of very cold weather between 1 November 2024 and 31 March 2025 if the average temperature in your area is recorded or forecasted to be zero degrees Celsius or below for seven consecutive days.
To check if you are eligible for Cold Weather Payments, you can refer to the eligibility criteria outlined on the government website. It is important to note that Cold Weather Payments are distinct from Winter Fuel Payments, which are typically provided annually to those who meet the age and residency requirements, as well as receiving specific benefits.
If you are not eligible for Cold Weather Payments, you may still be able to receive an annual Winter Heating Payment, which is not dependent on the weather conditions in your area. This payment is designed to assist those who may be struggling with energy costs during the winter months, regardless of the temperature.
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Frequently asked questions
You can still get the Winter Fuel Payment if you live in a care home, but you will not be eligible if you get Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), or income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). You will also not be eligible if you lived in a care home for the whole time from 24 June to 22 September 2024.
The Winter Fuel Payment is a tax-free sum of between £100 and £300. If you live in a care home and don’t receive Pension Credit or income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance, you will receive £150.
Most people get the Winter Fuel Payment automatically if they’re eligible. You will need to claim if you’re eligible and live abroad. You can check your eligibility by contacting the Winter Fuel Payment Centre by phone or email.
