Nearly one million pensioners are being urged to check if they are eligible for a £3,900 income top-up which provides access to Winter Fuel Payments from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Last month, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the annual allowance to help cover the costs of winter heating bills will no longer be paid to all State Pensioners, but will instead only be issued to those on income-related benefits such as Pension Credit. Earlier this week, the Scottish Government confirmed this eligibility rule change will also be applied in Scotland from this year.
It estimates by the time the new Pension Age Winter Heating Payment replaces the DWP benefit for winter 2025/26, some 900,000 Scots will miss out on up to £300 - unless they are in receipt of a means-tested benefit. Many older people may not be aware a new claim for Pension Credit made before the first week in December, that later turns out to be successful, might also qualify for a backdated Winter Fuel Payment. This is because Pension Credit claims can be backdated by up to three months, as long as the claimant meets the eligibility criteria.
This would take any new claims made before December to within the September 16 - 22 qualifying week. The Chancellor also announced a drive to increase take-up of Pension Credit, which currently provides financial support and access to other benefits and discounts to 1.4 million people across Great Britain, including nearly 127,000 living in Scotland.
Mixed age.