Get help with winter fuel bills, says charity
NATIONAL poverty charity Turn2us is warning older people in Lancashire who have deferred their state pension to apply for the Winter Fuel Payment.
Every winter it is contacted by older people who are eligible for, but not receiving, between £100 and £300 to help with their heating bills.
Turn2us said that while those born on or before August 5 1953 were entitled to the Winter Fuel Payment, those who have deferred their State Pension would not get it paid automatically and would need to make a claim.
The warning comes as figures released by the Department for Work and Pensions reveal that 252,450 people in Lancashire received the payment last winter.
People usually get it automatically if they are eligible and get the state pension or another social security benefit (not housing benefit, council tax reduction, child benefit or Universal Credit).
How much people get depends on their circumstances.
Most payments are made automatically between November and December and are taxfree and will not affect other benefits.
Urging older people who have deferred their state pension to apply for the Winter Fuel Payment, Simon Hopkins, chief executive of Turn2us, said: “We see a rise in people seeking our help every winter as they struggle under the pressure of increased energy costs.
“Too many are forced to make the difficult choice between heating and eating.
“It is therefore vital that people receive the help with their winter energy costs that they are entitled to, particularly older people whose health is especially vulnerable to living in a cold home.”
Eligible people need to phone the winter fuel payment centre to claim on 03459 15 15 15 (Textphone 0345 606 0285), and lines are open 8am-6pm, Monday to Friday.
They should have their National Insurance number and bank or building society details when they call.