The British government is handing out £300 winter fuel allowance, are you eligible?

Everything is currently going through the same ordeal with the cost of living crisis. In these difficult times, many have come together and shared ways people can save money, from grocery shopping or even using household appliances.

Even the government and supermarkets are pitching in with food vouchers and £400 vouchers on energy bills. The government is now going to be helping out for the winter months with a £300 winter fuel allowance, but who is eligible?

The winter fuel allowance

According to iNews, the winter fuel allowance, which is also known as the ‘heating allowance’, is an annual tax-free payment from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for older people.

Those who are eligible can receive between £100 and £300 a year. This year, the British government has decided to an extra £300 to roughly 8 million pensioners to help them through the cost of living crisis.

Who’s eligible for the extra £300?

To be eligible for the winter fuel allowance, you must be born on or before 25 September 1956 according to iNews as well as living in the UK at least one day during the week of 19-25 September 2022.

However, there are exceptions to the latter requirement. If you aren’t living in the UK during those dates, you can still receive the £300 allowance if you live in Switzerland or a European Economic Area country or if you have strong links to the UK (ie: you lived or worked in the UK or have family living in the UK).

Although, if you live in Cyprus, France, Gibraltar, Greece, Malta, Portugal or Spain, you aren’t eligible for the payment as these countries' average winter temperatures are higher than in the UK.

Application conditions

Usually, if you are eligible, you won’t need to apply and will receive the payment automatically. If you haven’t received the payment but believe you are eligible, there are a few conditions are criteria as reported by iNews.

If you wish to apply, you will need to specify if any of the following apply to your situation:

• You do not get benefits or a state pension
• You only get housing benefits, council tax reduction, child benefits or universal credit
• You get benefits or a state pension but live in Switzerland or an EEA country
• You get an adult disability payment from the Scottish government

The amount of money you receive from the government depends on when you were born and your living situation.

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