HUNDREDS of pensioners who will miss out on the winter fuel payment can now apply for cash help worth hundreds of pounds.
Around 10million pensioners will no longer get the payment worth up to £300 after chancellor Rachel Reeves changed the rules for qualifying.
From this winter, the payment will be limited to people receiving Pension Credit and other means-tested benefits.
As a result, households are looking for ways to get support with essential costs, like energy bills, throughout the winter.
Some will be able to access help through the Household Support Fund (HSF).
The pot of money has been shared between councils in England who then decide how to distribute it and who is eligible for support.
That means what you are entitled to varies depending on where you live and it can be a bit of a postcode lottery.
The current round of support, worth £421million, is coming to an end on September 30.
But the scheme is being extended until Spring next year, with a further £421million being distributed to authorities across the country.
Milton Keynes council has revealed that it will be offering energy vouchers to struggling households from October.
It said that it will decide on eligibility on a “case by case” basis, but people who are just missing out on eligibility for the winter fuel payment will receive help worth up to £300.
Those whose local authority is Milton Keynes and meet any of the following criteria will be contacted about accessing the support:
- Local people who are already in financial difficulty
- Those who fall out of eligibility for Pension Credit and the Winter Fuel Payment
It added that anyone in financial crisis can approach the council for help with the cost of food, energy and essentials.
The Council said it expects around 1,400 pensioners to be eligible.
Once they are contacted, households will need to reply so the council knows how best to send the vouchers.
They will then be sent out within a week of the reply being received.
What is the Winter Fuel Payment?
Consumer reporter Sam Walker explains all you need to know about the payment.
The Winter Fuel Payment is an annual tax-free benefit designed to help cover the cost of heating through the colder months.
Most who are eligible receive the payment automatically.
Those who qualify are usually told via a letter sent in October or November each year.
If you do meet the criteria but don’t automatically get the Winter Fuel Payment, you will have to apply on the government’s website.
You’ll qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment this winter if:
- you were born on or before September 23, 1958
- you lived in the UK for at least one day during the week of September 16 to 22, 2024, known as the “qualifying week”
- you receive Pension Credit, Universal Credit, ESA, JSA, Income Support, Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit
If you did not live in the UK during the qualifying week, you might still get the payment if both the following apply:
- you live in Switzerland or a EEA country
- you have a “genuine and sufficient” link with the UK social security system, such as having lived or worked in the UK and having a family in the UK
But there are exclusions – you can’t get the payment if you live in Cyprus, France, Gibraltar, Greece, Malta, Portugal or Spain.
This is because the average winter temperature is higher than the warmest region of the UK.
You will also not qualify if you:
- are in hospital getting free treatment for more than a year
- need permission to enter the UK and your granted leave states that you can not claim public funds
- were in prison for the whole “qualifying week”
- lived in a care home for the whole time between 26 June to 24 September 2023, and got Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Payments are usually made between November and December, with some made up until the end of January the following year.
Can I get help if I don’t live in Milton Keynes?
To get help, you’ll need to check with your council, as local authorities are in charge of distributing the funding.
To find your local council, use the gov.uk council finder tool.
Once you’ve found your council, there should be information on how to apply on its website.
Each council has a different application process, so the exact details on how to apply will vary depending on where you live.
That means that the eligibility requirements to access the fund could also vary.
Some councils don’t require you to apply for help – if you qualify, they’ll contact you about it instead.
If your council’s website does not provide information, it’s best to call them and ask for more information.
What are other councils offering?
Residents in Blackpool can receive up to £300 in support from the Household Support Fund.
Those living in Bracknell Forest could be eligible for a £315 cash grant.
Low-income households in Cambridgeshire can apply for a financial award of £110 per household.
East Devon District Council is offering a one-off payment of £100 to households receiving housing benefit or council tax reduction.
Cheshire East Council is also offering struggling families £500 grants to fight the cost of living.
To find out what’s on offer from your council, visit gov.uk/find-local-council.
What energy bill help is available?
THERE'S a number of different ways to get help paying your energy bills if you're struggling to get by.
If you fall into debt, you can always approach your supplier to see if they can put you on a repayment plan before putting you on a prepayment meter.
This involves paying off what you owe in instalments over a set period.
If your supplier offers you a repayment plan you don’t think you can afford, speak to them again to see if you can negotiate a better deal.
Several energy firms have grant schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills.
But eligibility criteria varies depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances.
For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £2,000.
British Gas also offers help via its British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund.
You don’t need to be a British Gas customer to apply for the second fund.
EDF, E.ON, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power all offer grants to struggling customers too.
Thousands of vulnerable households are missing out on extra help and protections by not signing up to the Priority Services Register (PSR).
The service helps support vulnerable households, such as those who are elderly or ill, and some of the perks include being given advance warning of blackouts, free gas safety checks and extra support if you’re struggling.
Get in touch with your energy firm to see if you can apply.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
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