Winter Fuel Payment: Deferring state pension? When to act or face missing out on free cash

Keeping warm in the wintertime is a necessity, but it can be costly. During this time of year, some people may be able to get financial support in order to help them to pay for their heating bills. However, whether or not the state pension, or another social security benefit, is received can affect how eligible person is paid.

Who is eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment?

A person qualifies for a Winter Fuel Payment if two conditions apply.

These are, they were born on or before April 5, 1954, and they lived in the UK for at least one day during the week of 16 to 22 of September 2019.

This week is called the “qualifying week”.

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If a person did not live in the UK during this qualifying week, they may still get the payment if the following conditions apply:

• They live in Switzerland or a European Economic Area (EEA) country
• They have a “genuine and sufficient link to the UK” – which can include having lived or worked in the UK, and having family in the UK.

People who live in Cyprus, France, Gibraltar, Greece, Malta, Portugal or Spain cannot get the payment, as Gov.uk states.

Who will not qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment?

A lot of people will not qualify if they:

• Are in hospital getting free treatment for more than a year
• Need permission to enter the UK and their granted leave states that they can not claim public funds
• Were in prison for the whole week between 16 to 22 September 2019
• Lived in a care home for the whole time between 24 June to 22 September 2019, and got Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance.