WINTER
FUEL ALLOWANCE
Winter Fuel Payments
are an annual tax-free payment made to people aged 60 or over. It
is not the same as a cold weather payment, which depends on how
cold the weather is and is available to certain groups of people
in receipt of income support or income-based jobseeker’s allowance.
Entitlement to the payment is based on regulations, which means
that if someone is eligible they will have a right to the payment.
If a person is aged 60 or over for at least one day during the qualifying
week they will be eligible for a payment. In some cases those aged
60 or over in the qualifying week will be excluded from Winter Fuel
Payments, for example, if a person is receiving income support or
income-based jobseeker’s allowance and lives in a nursing home
or residential care.
Automatic payments of Winter
Fuel Payments are made to pensioners and those who previously made
a successful claim without the need to complete an application form
each year.
PLUS: A listener emailed the
programme to say: "I have a UK pension but now live in the
Republic of Ireland. I understand that I may qualify for the winter
fuel allowance. Is this correct? I can’t get a clear answer from
anyone.
Use the link, above right,
to the website of the Department for Work and Pension for more information.
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