Pensioners forced to fill out 243-question DWP form to keep £300 Winter Fuel Payment

01 September 2024 , 16:26

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Pensioners forced to fill out 243-question DWP form to keep £300 Winter Fuel Payment

Winter Fuel Payments used to be available to every household where someone is over state pension age, but now only those claiming means-tested benefits, including Pension Credit, can get it

Pensioners who want to keep their Winter Fuel Payment face filling out a form with 243 questions - with campaigners warning this will “put off” older people from claiming.

Winter Fuel Payments used to be available to every household where someone is over state pension age, but the rules have changed so only those claiming means-tested benefits, including Pension Credit, can get it. Winter Fuel Payments are worth up to £300, depending on your circumstances. 

But campaigners have sounded the alarm over the complexity of applying for Pension Credit from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) which involves filling out a 22-page form with 234 questions to answer. Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK told The Telegraph: “The Pension Credit form has 243 boxes to navigate. It is not particularly long or complex as claim forms go, but completing it would still pose a challenge for many of us, including many older people with no one to help them.”

Joanna Elson CBE, chief executive at Independent Age, said: “From our helpline, we already know that some older people are put off claiming due to the inaccessibility and length of the form. Pension Credit is a lifeline to many of the older people who receive it.” Campaigners have urged Pension Credit applicants to consider applying over the phone instead.

You can contact the Pension Credit claim line on 0800 99 1234. Pension Credit tops up your weekly income to £218.15 if you’re single, or to £332.95 if you’re in a couple. But as well as extra money, you’ll also unlock other discounts such as free dental treatment and vouchers for glasses or contact lenses, or a free TV licence if you’re over the age of 75.

The DWP estimates those who are entitled to Pension Credit are on average £3,900 a year better off - but 880,000 eligible households are missing out on this benefit.

James Smith