Almost 160,000 state pensioners narrowly missed out on the Winter Fuel Payment for this winter because they began their claim too late.

The DWP is being urged to change the rules as 158,803 older Britons missed out on up to £600 through the scheme as they did not claim their state pension until after the qualifying week ended, on September 25, 2023.

The above figure includes all those who missed out on the payment between the end of the qualifying week and December 17, 2023.

Labour MP Rebecca Long Bailey uncovered the figure after asking the DWP if it had looked at the “potential merits and cost of expanding eligibility for Winter Fuel Payments to those reaching state pension age in winter 2023-24″.

Pensions minister Paul Maynard said in response: “An individual is entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment if they have reached state pension age by the end of the ‘qualifying week’, which has been defined in law since 1999 as the week beginning on the third Monday in September.

“This is to allow time to check eligibility, make the calculations (which in some cases include an assessment of household formation as well as date of birth and place of residence), and make payments as far as possible before Christmas.”

The rules are that you need to be born before September 25, 1957 to qualify for the payment. This date changes each year to include all those of state pension age, in accordance with the qualifying week.

However, those who are claiming the state pension should get the funds automatically while those who are not have to apply by post or over the phone.

People who claim any of these benefits should get the Winter Fuel Payment automatically:

• State pension
• Pension Credit
• Attendance Allowance
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Carers Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• Income Support
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• awards from the War Pensions Scheme
• Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
• Incapacity Benefit
• Industrial Death Benefit.

A person can make a claim for the Winter Fuel Payment until March 31, 2024.

Most payments have been made and if a person has not received a payment by January 26, they can contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre to check if they need to claim.

The funds will appear in bank accounts with a payment reference starting with the individual’s National Insurance number followed by ‘DWP WFP’.

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