Cost-of-living support for OAPS

PENSIONERS have started to receive up to £600 to help with their energy bills this winter, in a move that will help 11.6 million people.

Winter Fuel Payments, which have been boosted this year by an additional £300 per household Pensioner Cost of Living payment, will land in bank accounts over the next two months.

The vast majority of payments – which started to be made yesterday – will be made automatically, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said.

Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride said: “We want to do everything we can to support pensioners who are often the most exposed to higher costs.

“That’s why we’re providing all pensioner households with an additional £300 on top of their Winter Fuel Payments to heat their homes and stay warm this winter.”

The money will appear in bank statements with the payment reference starting with the customer’s national insurance number followed by “DWP WFP” for people living in Wales, England and Scotland, or “DFC WFP” for people in Northern Ireland.

While most payments will be automatic in November or December, some people may need to make a claim, such as those who qualify but do not receive benefits or the state pension and have never previously received a Winter Fuel Payment, the DWP said.

Those who do not receive a payment by January 13, 2023, should contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre, the DWP said.

More than seven million payments of £324 have already been made this month to low-income households as part of the Government’s cost of living support.