Millions to get extra £300 payment this year, find out if you're eligible

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is giving a £300 payment on top of the Winter Fuel Payment from November this year for those who are eligible and over the State Pension age. The money is part of the government’s financial support package designed to help people with the cost of living moving into the 2023/24 tax year.

The support is the same as last year’s payment whereby 11.6 million people over State Pension age received up to £600 in Winter Fuel Payments with many receiving the cost of living payment of £300.

Winter Fuel Payment

Whilst it might seem a bit early to be looking ahead to winter, the payment comes as a much needed boost to people’s finances come November and the government’s new scheme for 2023/34 has recently been announced.

If you are entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment in 2023/24 then you will get an extra £150 or £300 paid with your normal payment from November.

The full amount of Winter Fuel Payment and pensioner cost of living payment you will receive depends on when you were born and your circumstances during the qualifying period.

You are eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2023 to 2024 if you were born before September 24, 1957, as per gov.uk.

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How to claim

The extra money should arrive automatically and so you don’t need to do anything at all. You will be sent a letter in October or November telling you how much Winter Fuel Payment you’ll get if you’re eligible.

However, the following people will not be eligible for the payment, as per the Daily Record:

• If you have been in hospital getting free treatment for more than a year
• If you need permission to enter the UK and your granted leave says that you cannot claim public funds
• If you live in a care home

This guidance will be updated with the qualifying dates for the payment when they are published. Further guidance and information about the government’s cost of living payments for 2023/34 can be found online.

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Sources used:

- BBC 'Cost of living: What payments are available and how do you claim?'

- The Daily Record 'DWP to give older people up to £300 on top of Winter Fuel Payments this year'

- Gov.uk 'Cost of Living Payments 2023 to 2024'