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<\/p>\nPENSIONERS should take note of all the direct payments worth up to \u00a31,440 landing in bank accounts before Christmas. <\/p>\n
The cost of living is still sky high but there are ways people can get help. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
For people over the age of 66 – meaning they are above state pension age – there are a bunch of payments that you might be able to apply for.<\/p>\n
Some will even be sent to you automatically.<\/p>\n
Here's the full list of payments to look out for ahead of the festive season.<\/p>\n
The winter fuel payment is usually worth between \u00a3100 and \u00a3300 for those over\u00a0state pension\u00a0age.<\/p>\n
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To qualify, the following must apply:<\/p>\n
If you do meet the criteria but don't automatically get the winter fuel payment, you will have to\u00a0apply\u00a0on the government's website.<\/p>\n
Automatic payments are usually made between November and December, and you should have received yours by January 2024 at the latest.<\/p>\n
<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n If you haven't got your payment by then, you need to call the office that pays your benefits.<\/p>\n Those details can be found in the letters they have sent you.<\/p>\n Those eligible to receive the\u00a0winter fuel payment\u00a0automatically qualify for a \u00a3300 "pensioner cost of living payment" paid this winter.<\/p>\n Postal applications open on September 18 and applications by phone open from October 4.<\/p>\n Like with the winter fuel payment, to get the\u00a0Pensioner Cost of Living Payment, the following must apply:<\/p>\n You should receive the money automatically. <\/p>\n Some people over the age of 66 may qualify for pension credit and therefore the cold weather payment. <\/p>\n When temperatures drop, bills typically rise.<\/p>\n This is because households use more energy to warm their homes, among other things.<\/p>\n But if temperatures hit zero degrees Celsius or below for at least seven days, some households are eligible for a \u00a325 payment to help with essential costs.<\/p>\n The\u00a0cold weather payment\u00a0scheme is only open between November 1 and March 31 each year to cover the winter months.<\/p>\n You can get the cash more than once, too.<\/p>\n For every seven-day period that temperatures are zero degrees or below, eligible households will automatically be granted \u00a325.<\/p>\n You have to meet some requirements to get this support, such as being in receipt of:<\/p>\n You will be able to check whether your area is due a payment by using the government's\u00a0online tool.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Winter Fuel Allowance\u00a0is an automatic, annual tax-free payment made automatically to eligible UK residents who are of a certain age.<\/p>\n It aims to help cover heating costs throughout the winter months.<\/p>\n Anyone born on or before September 25, 1956, making them at least 65 years old, and who also has a limited income may be eligible for the payment.<\/p>\n Other eligibility requirements include:<\/p>\n If you have not lived in the UK during the qualifying period, you will not be eligible for the payment automatically.<\/p>\n How much you get depends on your exact age and your household circumstances, though it has always been between \u00a3100 and \u00a3300 previously.<\/p>\n The second cost of living payment should be landing in bank accounts during the autumn or winter period.<\/p>\n The exact date hasn't yet been announced but eligible people will receive \u00a3300.<\/p>\n You should qualify for this payment if you receive pension credit.<\/p>\n You won't need to apply – it'll be sent to your bank account automatically.<\/p>\n The winter heating payment is just for households in Scotland.<\/p>\n It replaces the cold weather payment that households in other parts of the UK will receive. <\/p>\n This year's winter heating payment will be \u00a355.05 and will be sent to households automatically in November. <\/p>\n You'll qualify if you're on pension credit or other means-tested benefits.<\/p>\n Every year the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) gives people a bit of extra cash.<\/p>\n Eligible households will get a \u00a310\u00a0Christmas\u00a0bonus this year.<\/p>\n Although it may seem like a small amount, every little helps over the costly\u00a0holiday season.<\/p>\n As the \u00a310 is a bonus, it won't need to be repaid and it won't affect any other\u00a0benefit\u00a0you receive.<\/p>\n The payment is usually paid in the first full week of December.<\/p>\n You'll qualify if you get the state pension, pension credit and other means-tested benefits. <\/p>\n The \u00a310 Christmas bonus is paid automatically so you don't need to claim.<\/p>\n You'll get it paid into the same account where you normally receive your benefit payments and it should show up in your statement as "DWP XB" or something similar.<\/p>\n If you think you qualify but you don\u2019t receive a payment automatically, you should contact your local Jobcentre Plus or\u00a0Pension\u00a0Centre.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Warm Home Discount\u00a0is available to those on the lowest incomes to help with rising costs.<\/p>\n Households in England and Wales don't need to apply to get the cash and\u00a0they'll automatically qualify\u00a0if they are receiving certain benefits.<\/p>\n In Scotland, some customers will need to apply for cash.<\/p>\n Energy suppliers will automatically dish out the discount, which is \u00a3150 this year, as long as you were receiving certain benefits on or before Sunday, August 21.<\/p>\n You'll qualify if you claim pension credit and other means-tested benefits. <\/p>\n The money won't be paid to you directly \u2013 it'll be added as credit to your electricity account. This usually happens between October and April.<\/p>\n Visit the Government website for more information.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/maureen-mclean-alamy-live-news-843123179.jpg\")
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Pensioner cost of living payment – \u00a3300<\/h2>\n
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Cold weather payment – \u00a325<\/h2>\n
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Winter Fuel Allowance – \u00a3100 to \u00a3300<\/h2>\n
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Second cost of living payment – \u00a3300<\/h2>\n
Winter heating payment – \u00a355<\/h2>\n
DWP \u00a310 bonus<\/h2>\n
Warm Home Discount – \u00a3150 <\/h2>\n
Read More on The Sun<\/span><\/h2>\n
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