State pensioners across the UK will get a £300 payment from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in time for Christmas.
The DWP has confirmed that 1.3 million pensioner households have now started to receive their Winter Fuel Payments and are urged to look for a six-letter code on their bank statement.
The Winter Payment is worth £200 for those born between September 23, 1944 and September 22, 1958, while those born before September 23, 1944 will get £300.
The payment is to help vulnerable pensioners pay their energy bills over the winter period and it began to roll out to those who are eligible from last month, meaning most households should receive it in time for Christmas.
The DWP says the payment will be credited to your bank account with a payment reference beginning with your National Insurance number, followed by the six-letter code ‘DWP WFP’.
If you haven’t received your payment by January 29, 2025, you should contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre on 0800 731 0160.
The DWP is urging all pensioners on a low income to apply for Pension Credit before Saturday, December 21, as this benefit serves as a gateway to a wealth of financial support, including the Winter Fuel Payment.
All eligible claimants will receive up to £300 with the Winter Fuel Payment, as well as any backdated Pension Credit arrears.
The benefit is worth up to £3,900 per year on average and those who claim it can also get access to help with housing costs, Council Tax discounts, a free TV licence, NHS treatment costs and help with heating bills through the Warm Home Discount Scheme.
And the payment rates will be increasing next year, with the Pension Credit standard minimum guarantee soon to be worth £227.10 a week for a single person and £346.60 for a couple.
You can apply online via Gov.uk, or by calling the Pension Credit claim line on 0800 99 1234.
