Pensioner households in the UK will get a £300 cash boost from November as the government begins its rollout of winter support payments.
Around 1.5 million pensioners are estimated to get the Winter Fuel Payment this year to help cover heating costs over the winter.
The handout, which is worth either £200 or £300, is given to those born before September 23, 1959, who are in receipt of certain benefits.
Under the previous Conservative government the payment was a universal benefit for everyone of State Pension age, but new Labour rules now state that you must be claiming at least one of the following from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to qualify:
The new eligibility criteria for the Winter Fuel Payment is just one of many changes set to be rolled out by Labour, with Rachel Reeves expected to announce a swathe of tax rises and spending cuts in her first Budget as Chancellor this week. Labour has already warned that the October Budget will contain some “tough decisions”, including possible tax hikes.
But the Budget won’t cause disruption to benefits and State Pensions next month, with payments set to be issued as normal during November. Listed are all the key dates DWP payments will roll out.
DWP benefits
The following benefits will all be paid by the DWP on the normal date in November:
Universal Credit – paid every month
Pension Credit – usually paid every four weeks
Disability Living Allowance – usually paid every four weeks
Personal Independence Payment -usually paid every four weeks
Attendance Allowance – paid every four weeks
Carer’s Allowance – paid weekly in advance or every four weeks
Employment Support Allowance – usually paid every two weeks
Income Support – usually paid every two weeks
Jobseeker’s Allowance – usually paid every two weeks
Maternity Allowance – paid every two or four weeks
Child Benefit – usually paid every four weeks, or weekly if you’re a single parents or you or your partner get certain benefits
Tax Credits – paid every four weeks or weekly
Benefits are usually paid straight into your bank, building society or credit union account. If your payment date is on a weekend or a bank holiday you’ll usually be paid on the working day before.
State Pension
Your State Pension is usually paid directly into your bank account every four weeks, with the day you receive your payment depending on the last two digits of your National Insurance number. This is how National Insurance numbers correspond to payment days:
- 00 to 19 – paid on Monday
- 20 to 39 – paid on Tuesday
- 40 to 59 – paid on Wednesday
- 60 to 79 – paid on Thursday
- 80 to 99 – paid on Friday
Winter Fuel Payment
Most payments are made automatically in November or December. You will get a letter from the DWP telling you how much you’ll get and which bank account it will be paid into, which is usually the same account as your Pension Credit or other benefits.
If you don’t get a letter or the money has not been paid into your account by January 29, 2025, contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.
Warm Home Discount
A one-off £150 discount may be applied to your electricity bill this winter if you are eligible for the Warm Home Discount Scheme.
If you qualify, your electricity supplier will automatically apply the discount to your bill between early October 2023 and March 31, 2025.
Cold Weather Payment
Thousands of households can get a free £25 handout from the DWP this winter as part of its Cold Weather Payment scheme.
You’ll be given a payment if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, 0C or below over seven consecutive days this winter.
The DWP will issue the cash after each period of cold weather, with households due to receive it within 14 working days. You’ll get £25 for each seven day period of very cold weather between November 1, 2024 and March 31, 2025.
