Communities Minister has announced his plan for
the allocation of £17million from the Executive to mitigate the
impact of changes to the Winter Fuel Payment (WFP).
The funds, allocated following the October monitoring fund, will
be used to provide a one-off fuel support payment of £100 to
pensioners no longer eligible for WFP.
An estimated 250,000 pensioners, in approximately 170,000
households, who were set to lose out after the UK government's
decision to means-test the Winter Fuel Payment, will receive the
automatic payment. Eligibility criteria will be that previously
used for WFPs and payments will be issued before the end of March
2025.
Minister Lyons said: “Since the unwelcome and unexpected
decision by the UK government to limit Winter Fuel Payments to
those in receipt of Pension Credit and other means tested
benefits, I have sought to secure fuel support for affected
pensioners so I welcome the £17million allocation.
“My Department will use these funds to provide a one-off £100
payment to pensioners no longer eligible for a Winter Fuel
Payment.
“Having previously tasked my officials with readying the relevant
legislation in the event of a funding allocation, I expect the
payment to be made automatically before the end of March 2025.”
The eligibility criteria for the one-off fuel support payment
will be the same applied to the Winter Fuel Payment before the
changes announced by the UK government. This means pensioners
must have been born before 23 September 1958 in the qualifying
week (Monday 16 September to Sunday 22 September 2024) to be
eligible for the one-off £100 payment. There will be one payment
for pensioner household affected by the Winter Fuel Payment
changes. No application is required and payments will be made by
the same method as Winter Fuel Payments.
Minister Lyons continued: “Whilst I hope this payment will go
some way to supporting those pensioners affected by the changes
to WFPs, I recognise that it will not fully mitigate its impact
so I am encouraging everyone to check their benefit entitlement.
“Just last week, I announced an uptake in additional benefits of
£62million in 2023/24 through my Department's Make the Call
service, £21.3million of which went to pensioners.
“This free and confidential service puts people in touch with
support to which they may be entitled but have not been claiming.
Pension Credit in particular, can provide access to a range of
other supports and benefits which can be a lifeline for our older
generations.
“My Department will continue its Pension Credit promotional
activities with applications having increased by 56 per cent
during August to October from the corresponding period last year.
“A Pension Credit claim can be made online, by telephone or post,
and people can use the Pension Credit calculator online to check
their potential entitlement.
“I want to ensure that all available support and entitlements go
directly to those who most need them so would encourage everyone
to ‘make the call'.”
Notes to Editors
- The fuel support payment will be made automatically to
pensioners through the channel by which they normally receive
their benefits. No application is necessary.
- To be eligible for the one-off payment for winter 2024/25
customers must be over 66 in the qualifying week (Monday 16
September to Sunday 22 September 2024) and not be eligible to
receive a Winter Fuel Payment
- Approx. 58,000 pensioners will remain eligible for WFP
totalling approx. £14.5million in 2024/25. Eligibility for WFPs
is now restricted to those over 66 in receipt of Pension Credit
and other means-tested benefits
