THE final date £600 Winter Fuel payments will be made has been confirmed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Most eligible pensioners should have received the one-off payment by now, but the department has advised everyone should have their payment by January 13
Already 11.6 million payments have been made to eligible pensioners across the country, costing around £4.6 billion.
DWP says most people who have been able to claim the payment has already received it.
But payments are expected to continue into January which are paid directly into the recipient’s bank account.
If a payment is not received by January 13, should contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre online or by telephone.
The Winter Fuel Payments are payments are paid out automatically in most cases, but some will need to make a claim.
People who do not receive benefits or the State Pension and have not received a Winter Fuel Payment may need to make a request.
Claims can be made up to March 31 2023 and those who would like to check if they fit the criteria can check here.
Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride said: “As the cold weather bites, it is good to be able to confirm that over 99 percent of eligible pensioners have already received as much as £600 to help with their energy bills this winter.
“These payments are just one part of the wider support package we are delivering to help with rising bills, with additional help to follow next year – including the biggest State Pension increase in history.”
It comes as a woman was left stunned when the DWP wrote her a letter to say her dead dad was getting a winter fuel payment of £600.
Zara Rayson got the letter expressing sympathy for the death of her dad Barry in October but went on to say the money was still going to be paid in three weeks time.
The office manager was left “totally confused” – especially as his bank account is due to be closed this week.
But it has emerged pensioners that have died have been paid an allowance for their winter fuel because of a bizarre government loophole.
The DWP calculates each year’s payment based on a “qualifying week” in September.
It does not withdraw the offer if the claimant dies before the money is paid out, as in Barry’s case.
