Pensioners have till the top of Saturday to use for advantages which may unlock entry to the winter gas cost, or danger lacking out on as much as £300.
It has been switched to a means-tested profit together with for these on pension credit score, however official estimates recommend there are 760,000 households who don’t declare pension credit score.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves determined to scrap the universal entitlement to a winter gas cost, blaming a monetary black gap inherited from the earlier Conservative authorities.
Ms Reeves mentioned the change would save the Treasury round £1.4bn this monetary 12 months.
Winter Gas Cost: Discover if you are eligible?
The variety of pensioners receiving the cost is anticipated to fall by round 10 million, from 11.4 million to 1.5 million.
These born earlier than 23 September 1958 can obtain a £200 or £300 cost in the event that they obtain pension credit score or different key advantages together with common credit score, baby or working tax credit score, or jobseeker’s allowance.
Pension credit score tops up weekly incomes to £218.15 for a single pensioner or £332.95 for a joint weekly revenue for these with a accomplice.
The deadline to qualify for the 2024/25 winter gas cost is 11.59pm on Saturday for on-line purposes.
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The Division for Work and Pensions (DWP) has additionally mentioned that declare cellphone traces can be open on Saturday till 3.15pm.
The federal government has deployed round 500 extra employees to help processing purposes.
September: Clashes at PMQs over winter gas pay cuts
However charities have been scathing concerning the choice to reform the cost. When the modifications have been first introduced In September, Age UK mentioned: “We simply do not assume it is truthful to take away the cost from the two.5 million pensioners on low incomes who badly want it.”
A authorities spokesperson mentioned: “Over a million pensioners will nonetheless obtain the winter gas cost, and our drive to spice up pension credit score take-up has seen purposes greater than double with over 40,000 extra pensioners now receiving it, in addition to the winter gas cost.”
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The winter gas cost is a devolved matter for Scotland, in addition to Northern Eire the place a one-off £100 cost can be made by the top of March 2025 to all pensioner households who’ve had their winter gas funds eliminated.
In November, the Scottish authorities introduced it would apply its own scheme for winter 2025/26 for these on eligible advantages.
