The DWP has responded to a Parliamentary question about extending the Winter Fuel Payment to those who are terminally ill.

The payment of between £250 and £600 currently goes out to people born before September 25, 1957, with the amount a person receives depending on their situation.

Belfast South MP Claire Hanna asked the Government if they had looked at the merits of extending the scheme to those with a terminal illness.

Pensions minister Paul Maynard said in response: “There are no plans to change these eligibility criteria. This winter, as last, the payments include the Pensioner Cost of Living Payment of £300 on top of the usual rate of £200 for a pensioner household with someone aged under 80, and £300 for households with someone aged 80 or over.

“More broadly, the department is committed to supporting people with a terminal illness. The Special Rules for End of Life enable people with a terminal illness to get faster, easier access to certain benefits without needing to attend a medical assessment or serve waiting periods; and in most cases, receive the highest rate of benefit.”

The Special Rules for End of Life were recently changed so they now apply to someone with 12 months or less to live, rather than solely to those with six months or less to live.

Mr Maynard said: “Changes to these rules means that thousands of people nearing the end of life will be able to claim fast-tracked financial support from the benefits system six months earlier than they were able to previously.”

Most people should get their Winter Fuel Payment automatically in November and December – eligible people shold have received a letter in October or November to tell them how much they will get.

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

State pensioners are also to get a payment boost next year as the triple lock has been retained meaning pensioners will get an 8.5 percent payment increase in April.

With the uprating, the full new state pension will go up from £203.85 a week to £221.20 a week, basic state pension will go up from £156.20 a week to to £169.50 a week, an increase of almost £700 a year.

Jamie Jenkins, director of Policy and Communications at Royal London, said: “The triple lock has proved a lifeline for pensioners struggling to keep their heads above water amid the greatest cost of living shock in modern times.

“In committing to an 8.5 percent hike, the Chancellor has honoured the Government’s pledge and offered reassurance to millions that they will be able to stay ahead of the inflation curve for the short-term at least.

“We now need a sensible plan for what it is trying to achieve, and what will replace it once we agree that the State Pension has reached a reasonable level.”

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How much will the Winter Fuel Payment be?

The one-off payment is tax-free and will not affect a person’s other benefit payments.

For those who live alone or no one they live with is eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment

They will get either:

• £500 if they were born between September 25, 1943 and September 24, 1957
• £600 if they were born before September 25, 1943.

If a person lives with someone else who’s eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment

The payment may be different if they get one of the following benefits:

• Pension Credit
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income Support

If they do not get any of the benefits listed above

They will get a payment of either:

• £250 if they and the person they live with were both born between September 25, 1943 and September 24, 1957
• £250 if they were born between September 25, 1943 and September 24, 1957 but the person they live with was born before September 25, 1943
• £350 if they were born before September 25, 1943 but the person they live with was born between September 25, 1943 and September 24, 1957
• £300 if they and the person they live with were both born before September 25, 1943.

If a person and their partner jointly claim any of the benefits listed above

One of them will get a payment of either:

• £500 if both of them were born between September 25, 1943 and September 24, 1957
• £600 if one or both of them were born before September 25, 1943.

If a person gets get any of the benefits listed above (not as part of a joint claim)

They will get a payment of either: