State pensioners born before a certain date can get an instant \u00a3100 boost to their winter fuel payments.<\/p>\n
Winter fuel payment<\/a> criteria have been changed twice in two years, with a switch to Pension Credit proving wildly unpopular before the system was changed once again for this current winter.<\/p>\n A decision to make winter fuel payments means tested and tied to Pension Credit eligibility meant that the \u00a3200 or \u00a3300 payments were only available to those on a very low income, about \u00a311,000, which proved very controversial.<\/p>\n For this past winter, the system was changed again and meant that all state pensioners would once again receive the money on a universal basis, with only those earning a much more generous \u00a335,000 or more being made to give it back.<\/p>\n Those who were of state pension<\/a> age but aged under 80, so born on or before September 21, 1959, in the recent round of payments, received a \u00a3200 payment, whereas those aged over 80 – so born on September 21, 1944 or earlier – qualified for an instant \u00a3100 increase, giving them a \u00a3300 payment instead.<\/p>\n The amount you get is based on when you were born and what your circumstances were between September 15 and 21, 2025. This is called the \u2018qualifying week\u2019.<\/p>\n This means that if you are now aged over 80 and qualify, your Winter Fuel Payment will be increased from \u00a3200 to \u00a3300.<\/p>\n Most people who qualify will get a letter telling you how much you\u2019ll get and which bank account this will be paid into – which is usually the same as your Pension Credit or other benefits.<\/p>\n Age UK said: \u201cIf you or your partner claims Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker\u2019s Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance, the payment should go to the main claimant of the benefit automatically.<\/p>\n “If you’ve never received a winter fuel payment<\/a> before, or if you claim Universal Credit, you might need to make a claim. And if you receive Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit, you must make a claim.<\/p>\n