Older people no longer due Winter Fuel Payments could still get up to £200 this month

Linda Howard
·8-min read

Octopus customers may be unaware that the energy provider has extended a support scheme to include people over State Pension age who are not in receipt of Pension Credit after the UK Government announced it was removing annual Winter Fuel Payments for over 10 million older people across Great Britain. Despite calls from MPs, charities and campaigners from around the country, to U-turn on the decision, the Labour Government is standing by the policy change.

The eligibility change means millions of pensioners who received payments of between £100 and £00 last year will not be due the money this winter. However, Octopus said it will continue its £30 million assistance fund into this winter, and State Pensioners who do not meet the new criteria for Winter Fuel Payments will be eligible. Similarly, OVO has launched a £50m package of support aimed at helping customers struggling to manage energy bills as the new, higher price cap kicks in. Both funds are now open to applications with funding available all-year-round.

READ MORE: State Pensioners in Scotland to receive at least £100 winter heating bill help

READ MORE: New update on calls for Winter Fuel Payments to be given to all pensioners

Octopus Energy’s ‘Octo Assist’ fund can provide discretionary credits of £50, £100 and £200 and the energy giant is reminding customers that it always charges below the price cap - which has now risen by 10 per cent - shielding customers from £150m of energy costs each year.

It also offers free electric blankets for customers, loans of heat loss cameras to identify and fix draughts, energy helpers providing tailored in-person energy-saving advice and ‘savings sessions’ where customers can save money by using less energy during peak periods - over 2m participants and £10.5m in savings has been paid out over the last two winters.

People of all ages struggling to cope with higher heating costs this winter may be able to access financial support through their local council. The Scottish Government confirmed it received a £41m package from Westminster to help households north of the border - find out about help on offer on the cost of living Scotland website here.

Greg Jackson, Founder of Octopus Energy Group, recently said: “At times like this, we can’t expect the government to do everything - companies need to work hard on affordability too. That’s why we’ve expanded our Octo Assist fund to introduce extra support for the pensioners who need it most.

“There’s a lot of government and other support for pensioners but many don’t realise it - government data shows one in three pensioners eligible for pension credits are not claiming, so we’re training our team to help with this too.“

OVO Extra Support Package

OVO is also providing additional financial support worth £50 million to help customers struggling with the ongoing cost of living crisis.

Similar to the Octo Assist fund, the package is open all year round, with increased support over winter to provide eligible customers with financial support and energy efficiency products to help them through the colder months.

Over the past year, OVO has supported over 200,000 customers through its customer support package.

The £50m package includes:

  • Payment holidays for all prepayment customers so that every penny put on the meter will go towards heating, not paying back debt this winter. OVO is also keeping emergency credit at the increased amount of £15.

  • Free energy saving products including electric throws, mattress toppers, and home efficiency kits.

  • Energy efficiency upgrades: Customers could receive a wide range of energy-saving measures installed through ECO4 - from loft insulation to a new boiler, or even high-end tech like heat pumps. Eligible customers could get a whole package installed, all for free.

  • Financial support including Direct Debit reductions, emergency credit top-ups, and extended repayment plans.

  • New partnerships and increased financial relief for customers alongside help for organisations including Warm Welcome Campaign and StepChange.

OVO’s eligibility goes beyond the £150 Warm Home Discount, meaning older people missing out on Winter Fuel Payments may still be eligible for support. Find out more about support from OVO here.

Both Octopus Energy and OVO advisers can also help customers check for unclaimed benefits such as Pension Credit.

Pension Credit

Pension Credit gives people extra money to help with their living costs if they are over State Pension age and on a low income. It can also provide access to a range of other benefits.

The benefit tops up income to a minimum of £218.15 per week for single pensioners and £332.95 for couples - more if a person has a disability or caring responsibilities.

An award of just £1 per week is enough to unlock other support, including Winter Fuel Payments.

Check eligibility for Pension Credit

Older people, or friends and family, can quickly check their eligibility and get an estimate of what they may receive by using the online Pension Credit calculator on GOV.UK here.

Alternatively, pensioners can contact the Pension Credit helpline directly to make a claim on 0800 99 1234 - lines are open 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.

New claims submitted to the DWP by December 21, 2024 which later turn out to be successful will qualify for a backdated Winter Fuel Payment.

Expert help and advice is also available from:

Below is an overview of the benefit including who should check eligibility, how to go about it and how much you could get.

Other help if you get Pension Credit

If you qualify for Pension Credit you can also get other help, such as:

  • Housing Benefit if you rent the property you live in

  • Support for Mortgage Interest if you own the property you live in

  • Council Tax discount

  • Free TV licence if you are aged 75 or over

  • Help with NHS dental treatment, glasses and transport costs for hospital appointments

  • Help with your heating costs through the Warm Home Discount Scheme and Winter Fuel Payment

  • A discount on the Royal Mail redirection service if you are moving house

Mixed aged older couples and Pension Credit

In May 2019, the law changed so a ‘mixed age couple’ - a couple where one partner is of State Pension age and the other is under it - are considered to be a ‘working age’ couple when checking entitlement to means-tested benefits.

This means they cannot claim Pension Credit or pension age Housing Benefit until they are both State Pension age. Before this DWP change, a mixed age couple could be eligible to claim the more generous State Pension age benefits when just one of them reached State Pension age.

How to use the Pension Credit calculator

To use the calculator on GOV.UK, you will need details of:

  • earnings, benefits and pensions

  • savings and investments

You’ll need the same details for your partner if you have one. You will be presented by a series of questions with multiple choice answer options.

This includes:

  • Your date of birth

  • Your residential status

  • Where in the UK you live

  • Whether you are registered blind

  • Which benefits you currently receive

  • How much you receive each week for any benefits you get

  • Whether someone is paid Carer’s Allowance to look after you

  • How much you get each week from pensions - State Pension, private and work pensions

  • Any employment earnings

  • Any savings, investments or bonds you have

Once you have answered these questions, a summary screen shows your responses, allowing you to go back and change any answers before submitting. The Pension Credit calculator then displays how much benefit you could receive each week.

All you have to do then is follow the link to the application page to find out exactly what you will get from the DWP, including access to other financial support.

There’s also an option to print off the answers you give using the calculator tool to help you complete the application form quicker without having to look out the same details again. Try the Pension Credit Calculator for yourself or your family member to make sure you’re receiving all the financial support you are entitled to claim.

Who cannot use the Pension Credit calculator?

You cannot use the calculator if you or your partner:

  • are deferring your State Pension

  • own more than one property

  • are self employed

  • have housing costs (such as service charges or Crown Tenant rent) which are neither mortgage repayments nor rent covered by Housing Benefit

How to make a claim

You can start your application up to four months before you reach State Pension age. You can claim any time after you reach State Pension age but your claim can only be backdated for three months.

This means you can get up to three months of Pension Credit in your first payment if you were eligible during that time.

You will need:

  • your National Insurance number

  • information about your income, savings and investments

  • your bank account details, if you’re applying by phone or by post

If you’re backdating your claim, you’ll need details of your income, savings and investments on the date you want your claim to start.

Apply online

You can use the online service if:

  • you have already claimed your State Pension

  • there are no children or young people included in your claim

To check your entitlement, phone the Pension Credit helpline on 0800 99 1234 or use the GOV.UK Pension Credit calculator here to find out how much you could get.

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