Winter Fuel Pyments

Winter Fuel Payments will be paid by the Government to most people aged 60 or over for winter 2008/09.

This Payment is an annual payment to help people aged 60 and over with the costs of keeping warm this winter.

If you are aged 60 to 79 and you are entitled to receive a Winter Fuel Payment. The amount payable this year you will get either £125 or £250, depending on your circumstances in the qualifying week (15 to 21 September 2008).

If you are aged 80 or over and you are entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment, this year you will either £200 or £400, depending on your circumstances in the qualifying week.

Changes to State Pension age for women, means that the qualifying age for Winter Fuel Payments will raise gradually between 2010 and 2020, from 60 to 65. As a result of this change, from winter 2010/11 onwards, both men and women will need to have reached women’s State Pension age by the end of the September qualifying week.

If you need to make a claim for a payment for winter 2008/09, you should return your claim form on or before 30 March 2009.