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DWP begins rollout of 600 Winter Fuel Payments to pensioners to help with energy bills

One million pensioners in Yorkshire and the Humber will benefit

[Pensioners will receive 600 to help with energy bills this winter]

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Pensioners will receive 600 to help with energy bills this winter

Pensioners across the UK will receive 600 to help with their energy bills from today (November 23).

Almost a million people will benefit from this in the region, and more than 11.6 million people across the whole of the UK will start to receive payments of up to 600 to help with bills this winter.

Winter Fuel Payments boosted this year by an additional 300 per household Pensioner Cost of Living payment will land in bank accounts over the next two months, the vast majority automatically.

Read More: DWP will pay up to 1,350 to claimants on State Pension, Universal Credit and more

Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride said: We want to do everything we can to support pensioners who are often the most exposed to higher costs. Thats why were providing all pensioner households with an additional 300 on top of their Winter Fuel Payments to heat their homes and stay warm this winter.

This extra payment is just one part of the wider support package were delivering to help with rising bills, including the biggest State Pension increase in history.

Our support doesnt stop here. As we deal with the impact of Putins illegal war in Ukraine and the aftermath of the pandemic, we will continue to stand by the most vulnerable, with further cost of living payments coming next year.

The payments will appear in bank statements with references starting with the customers national Insurance number followed by DWP WFP for people in Great Britain. Most Winter Fuel Payments are paid automatically but some people need to make a claim, such as those who qualify but do not receive benefits or the State Pension and have never previously received a Winter Fuel Payment.

This month, seven million low-income households received payments of 324 as as part of this Governments cost of living support. This included pensioners receiving Pension Credit.

The average Pension Credit award is worth over 3,500 a year, and for those pensioners who may be eligible but are yet to make an application, there is still time to do so and qualify for this additional 324 payment. Pension Credit claims can be backdated by up to three months, provided the entitlement conditions are met throughout that time.

The DWP is urging pensioners to claim Pension Credit as soon as possible, and by no later than December 18 to ensure that a successful backdated claim falls within the qualifying period for extra 324 cost of living help. The online Pension Credit calculator is on hand to help pensioners check if theyre likely to be eligible and get an estimate of what they may receive.

Further cost of living support to be paid next year was announced by the Chancellor in his Autumn Statement last week. Payments will include a further 300 for pensioners, 900 for households on means-tested benefits and 150 for those on disability benefits.

Read Next:

• Mum claims her 'freezing' children are taking hats and gloves to wear in school
• Martin Lewis warns of 43 per cent rise in energy bills next winter
• Martin Lewis issues bad news for energy customers looking for a better deal
• Martin Lewis issues grim energy forecast for next winter as prices set to rise by 40%

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