20 August 2004 - Stay warmer this winter
Summer has at long last arrived, but the message from Pensions Minister Malcolm Wicks is: Stay Warmer This Winter.
Today he encouraged older people who have not previously received a Winter Fuel Payment to apply for help towards heating their homes this winter, and his words are backed up by an advertising campaign starting in the press today.
New applications received by 24th September will get their payment in time for Christmas.
Around 11 million people will automatically receive their Winter Fuel Payment this year, worth at least £200 per household – those already claiming State Pension or another social security benefit (but not Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit or Child Benefit) or have previously received a Winter Fuel Payment, won’t need to apply. And, as last year, anyone aged 80 or over will get an extra payment of up to £100.
Along with the Winter Fuel Payment, this year most households with an older person aged 70 or over will receive a one-off payment of an extra £100 to help with additional expenses including council tax bills.
Mr Wicks said: “We’ve been enjoying a hot spell just now and winter seems a long way off. But I want to tell people aged 60 and over that the Government will be ensuring many of them have a warmer winter again this year, with the help of the Winter Fuel Payment.
“This winter about eight million households will benefit from the £200 Winter Fuel Payment, worth around £4 a week. And around two million people in these households will also receive the 80+ Annual Payment of up to £100. This means their household will receive a total payment of £300.
“What’s more, this year we are recognising the extra expenses older people have to cope with, which is why most households with someone aged 70 or more will get £100 to help with additional expenses, including council tax.
“So all eligible pensioner households will be getting a winter fuel payment of at least £200 this winter, with the over 70s getting £300 and the over 80s getting £400. And these payments are tax-free lump sums that won’t affect anyone’s right to receive other benefits.”
Those who haven’t received a Winter Fuel Payment before, and won’t get a social security benefit in the qualifying week will need to claim. The latest date a claim can be received is 30th March 2005.
Malcolm Wicks added, “Older people should not have to worry about keeping their homes warm over the winter months. The Government is determined to continue tackling fuel poverty and the Winter Fuel Payment is one of the initiatives helping to do this.”
Notes for editors
- Anyone aged 60, 70 or 80 or over on or before 26 September 2004 may qualify.
- Most eligible people will get their payment automatically. People who qualify for the 80+ Annual Payment of up to £100, and the one-off 70+ payment, will get the extra money automatically – they will not need to claim. Eligible people who will receive their Winter Fuel Payment automatically:
- those who receive a State Retirement Pension or other social security benefit (but not Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit or Child Benefit) in the qualifying week 20-26 September 2004
- those who received a payment last year and whose circumstances have not changed.
- Those people who are newly eligible and who need to claim, and have not already received a claim form, can get one by visiting the Winter Fuel Payment website – www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/winterfuel, by calling the helpline on 08459 15 15 15 (0845 601 5613 for textphone users) or tearing off the coupon in national newspaper advertisements.
- There is a separate helpline number for queries on the 70+ Payment. The number is 02920 428 106.
- For people who need to claim to be sure of receiving their Winter Fuel Payment before Christmas, we must receive their correctly completed claim form by 24 September 2004. The final deadline for the receipt of claims for this winter is 30 March 2005.
- More information on Winter Fuel Payments is available in an information leaflet “Your guide to Winter Fuel Payments”, which will be widely available locally, and also on the Pension Service website. The Winter Fuel Payment Helpline is open from 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday and calls are charged at local rates.
- The national advertising campaign for this year’s Winter Fuel Payments starts on Monday 16th August.
- Malcolm Wicks is the author of a number of books and papers including Old and Cold: Hypothermia and Social Policy (1976).
Press office: 020 7238 0866
Out of hours: 07659 108 883
Public enquiries: 020 7712 2171
Website: www.dwp.gov.uk