Millions of pensioners across the country have started to receive up to £600 to help with energy bills this winter.

Winter Fuel Payments, which have been boosted again this year by the £300 Pensioner Cost of Living payment – will land in bank accounts over the next two months.

Mel Stride, Work and Pensions Secretary said: “We have delivered on our promise to halve inflation and will continue to support people right across the country, including pensioners who may be facing particular challenges over the colder months.

“As well as up to £600 to help our pensioners stay warm this winter, we’re boosting pensions through the triple lock – increasing the full rate of the new state pension by over £900 next year.”

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

According to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the majority of will be paid automatically, but some people may 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 will need to claim.

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.

Who is eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment?

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.

Those who do not receive a payment by January 26, 2024, are advised to contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.

How much is the Winter Fuel Payment?

People should have received a letter in October or November telling them how much Winter Fuel Payment they’ll get.

The amount is based on when a person was born and their circumstances between September 18 to September 24 2023. This is referred to as the ‘qualifying week’.

Eligible pensioners would usually receive between £100 to £300, depending on age and personal circumstances. However, this year’s amount includes the Pensioner Cost of Living Payment, raising the figure for potential payments to range from £250 to £600 instead.

Winter Fuel Payment rates 2023/24

If a person qualifies and lives alone (or none of the people they live with qualifies), the following rates for winter 2023/24 apply:

• £500 for those born between September 25, 1943, and September 24, 1957
• £600 for those born on or before September 25, 1943

If a person qualifies and lives with someone else who qualifies but does not get any benefits:

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

If a person qualifies and lives with someone and jointly claims certain benefits (including Pension Credit, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance or Income Support):

• £500 if both were born between September 25, 1943 (one person will receive the payment)
• £600 if one or both were born before September 25, 1943.

If a person qualifies and solely claims the specified benefits:

• £500 for those born between September 25 1943, and September 24, 1957
• £600 for those born before September 25, 1943.

If a person qualifies and lives in a care home:

• £250 for those born between September 25, 1943, and September 24, 1957
• £300 for those born before September 25, 1943.

The start of the Winter Fuel Payments season comes following the recent £300 Cost of Living payments made by the DWP to more than seven million eligible households across the UK.

This latest payment is the second of up to three Cost of Living Payments scheduled for this financial year. These payments are all tax-free and will not have any impact on existing benefit awards.

Pensioners getting Pension Credit also qualify for this extra Cost of Living Payment support. The average Pension Credit award is now worth £3,900 per year and eligible people still have time to apply and receive the £300 Cost of Living payment.

This is because an eligible claim for Pension Credit can be backdated by three months provided the entitlement conditions are met throughout that time.

The next and final Cost of Living Payment will be worth £299 and will be paid in spring 2024.