People will start receiving the winter fuel payment from today to help with their energy bills. This payment is being offered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to help older people pay for their heating during the winter.

Both people who receive benefits and those who don't receive benefits can submit a claim. Since September 18, people have received letters about their eligibility and can begin a claim by phone or by mail.

Most people receive the money between November and January, meaning November 1 is the earliest date you could start receiving the money by, although the end date for the scheme is January 26. With the money being sent out to people gradually over the coming weeks and months, here is everything you need to know about the winter fuel payment including who qualifies, how much you get and how you'll receive the money, WalesOnline reported.

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Who qualifies for the winter fuel payment?

You can get a winter fuel payment if you were born before September 25, 1957. You usually need to live in the UK but in certain situations you could qualify if you live abroad. You will also receive it if you live in a care home.

You will not qualify if you have been in hospital getting free treatment for over one year, if you need permission to enter the UK and your granted leave says that you cannot claim public funds, or if you were in prison for the whole of the week of September 18 to 24, 2023.

Do I have to apply for the money?

It depends on your circumstances. You do not need to claim if you get any of the following:

• State pension
• Pension credit
• Attendance allowance
• Personal independence payment (PIP)
• Carers allowance
• Disability living allowance (DLA)
• Income support
• Income-related employment and support allowance (ESA)
• Income-based jobseeker’s allowance (JSA)
• Awards from the war pensions scheme
• Industrial injuries disablement benefit
• Incapacity benefit
• Industrial death benefit

The DWP has been sending eligible claimants a letter about the winter fuel payment in the past few weeks telling them how much they will get. If you do not receive one or the money has not been paid into your account by January 26, 2024, you may need to contact the winter fuel payment centre on GOV.UK here.

You can claim by post from September 18, 2023, or by phone from October 4, 2023. To claim by phone from that date call the winter fuel payment helpline on 0800 731 0160. You can find out more about how to claim here.

How much will I get?

The amount you get will depend on when you were born and your circumstances during the qualifying week between September 18 and September 24, 2023. This year the payment will include a pensioner cost-of-living payment of between £150 and £300. The below amounts are what you will get including that additional payment.

If you live alone or no-one you live with is eligible for the winter fuel payment you will get:

• £500 if you were born between September 25, 1943, and September 24, 1957
• £600 if you were born before September 25, 1943

If you don't claim any benefits you could get:

• £250 if you and the person you live with were both born between September 25, 1943, and September 24, 1957
• £250 if you were born between September 25, 1943, and September 24, 1957, but the person you live with was born before September 25, 1943
• £350 if you were born before September 25, 1943, but the person you live with was born between September 25, 1943, and September 24, 1957
• £300 if you and the person you live with were both born before September 25, 1943

If you jointly claim benefits with your partner then one of you will get:

• 500 if both of you were born between September 25, 1943, and September 24, 1957
• £600 if one or both of you were born before September 25, 1943

Meanwhile, if you receive a benefit that is not part of a joint claim then you will get:

• £500 if you were born between September 25, 1943, and September 24, 1957
• £600 if you were born before September 25, 1943

Who will not qualify?

You will not be eligible if you:

• have been in hospital getting free treatment for more than a year
• need permission to enter the UK and your granted leave says that you cannot claim public funds
• were in prison for the whole of the week of 18 to 24 September 2023