DWP urges two groups of pensioners to come forward for free £300

The Department for Work and Pensions has urged two groups of pensioners to come forward for a free £300. Households struggling to make ends meet this winter can apply for a £300 Winter Fuel Payment from the new Labour Party governemnt.

The guidance states that if you do not get any of the qualifying means-tested benefits, you need to claim if either of the following apply: you have not received the Winter Fuel Payment before - this may be because you have deferred claiming your State Pension, or you or your partner get Universal Credit.

You can claim the 2024/25 Winter Fuel Payment by post or phone from October 28, 2024. The DWP advise that before you call, you will need to know your National Insurance number, your bank or building society details, your BIC and IBAN numbers, and the date you were married or entered into a civil partnership (if appropriate).

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You could qualify if you live abroad in the following countries: Austria or Belgium or Bulgaria or Croatia or Czech Republic or Denmark or Estonia or Finland or Germany or Hungary or Iceland or Ireland or Italy or Latvia or Liechtenstein or Lithuania or Luxembourg or Netherlands or Norway or Poland or Romania or Slovakia or Slovenia or Sweden or Switzerland.

If you live in England or Wales and were born before 23 September 1958, you will automatically receive the Winter Fuel Payment if you receive any of the following benefits: Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Income Support, income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit.

You can qualify if you live abroad in certain countries and the following conditions apply: you moved to the eligible country before January 1, 2021, you were born before September 23, 1958 or you have a genuine and sufficient link to the UK - this can include having lived or worked in the UK and having family in the UK