Millions of pensioners supported by Winter Fuel Payments

More than 12 million older people across the UK benefitted from a Winter Fuel Payment last winter, the latest figures have revealed.

The Winter Fuel benefit help older people to remain warm in their own homes during the coldest part of winter, the one-off payment of £100-£300 helps towards the cost of heating their homes.

The Government has committed to protect older people living within the UK by maintaining universal pensioner benefits, has led to almost nine million UK households being supported by the scheme. Of those, 6.7 million women and 5.7 million men were helped, resulting in a spending of more than £2.1 billion.

Secretary for Work and Pensions, Iain Duncan Smith, commented: “Winter can be hard for older people, particularly those who are vulnerable, and they should have the confidence to turn up the heating when they need to, safe in the knowledge that they will be able to afford to pay the bill.

“Winter Fuel Payments give people this peace of mind and remain central to our one nation commitment of a compassionate society which puts economic security at its heart.”

More than 2 million households receive additional support through the Warm Home Discount initiative. This year’s payment will provide more than 1.3 million of the UK’s most poverty-stricken older people receiving an extra £140 deduction on their energy bill.

In addition, the Government offers £25 per week in Cold Weather Payments. The payments provide extra support to vulnerable, low-income groups during the coldest parts of the year.

Furthermore, more than 140,000 older people with UK living in the European Economic Area or Switzerland also received a payment, costing a total of £24.5 million.

In order to qualify for Winter Fuel Payments, during 2015-2016, you will need to be born before 5 January 1953 and be living in the UK during the week of 21-27 September 2015.

Some older people qualify for a payment if they live in Switzerland or a European Economic Area (EEA) country and have a genuine link to the UK. New rules have been introduced this year prevent people in EEA countries from receiving Winter Fuel Payments if the average winter temperature is higher than the warmest region in the UK.

Winter Fuel Payments will no longer be payable to people in EEA countries which have an average winter temperature that is higher than the warmest region of the UK. This includes older people living in countries such as France, Cyprus, Greece, Gibraltar, Malta, Spain and Portugal.