The DWP has announced the date people need to check if they’ve received the Winter Fuel Payment to avoid missing out.

The payment, which is worth up to £600 to help with heating bills, is distributed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and most people will get it automatically.

Payments started in October, and most people should receive a letter confirming so by January 26. However, if someone believes they are eligible and hasn’t received a letter, the deadline to contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre is March 31, 2024.

A statement from the DWP reads: “The deadline for you to make a claim for winter 2023 to 2024 is March 31, 2024.”

Here’s a rundown of who may be eligible, as well as details on how to claim this year’s Winter Fuel Payment.

Who is eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment?

The payments deliver additional support to pensioners, the majority of whom are on fixed incomes and are unable to raise their incomes through fixed employment.

People can get a Winter Fuel Payment if they were born before September 25, 1957.

They usually need to live in the UK, but in some circumstances, people can be eligible if they live abroad.

People can also be eligible for the payment if they live in a care home, provided that both of the following do not apply:

• They get Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) or income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• They lived in a care home for the whole time from June 26 to September 24, 2023.

People will also not be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment if:

• They have been in hospital getting free treatment for more than a year
• They need permission to enter the UK and their granted leave says they cannot claim public funds
• They were in prison for the whole of the week of September 18 to September 24, 2023.

The money will appear in bank statements with the payment reference starting with the customer’s National Insurance number followed by ‘DWP WFP’ for people in Great Britain, or ‘DFC WFP’ for people in Northern Ireland.

According to the Department for Work and Pensions, the overwhelming majority of Winter Fuel Payments are paid automatically, but some people need to make a claim.

For example, those who qualify but do not receive benefits or the state pension and have never previously received a Winter Fuel Payment.

How to claim the Winter Fuel Payment

People can claim the Winter Fuel Payment by phone on 0800 731 0160 or by post. The full details of each can be found here.

Claimants will need their National Insurance number to hand, as well as their bank details and the date they got married or entered a civil partnership (if this applies).