The Liberal Democrats have called for an extension to Saturday's deadline to access winter fuel payments, warning tens of thousands of older people could miss out. There has been a surge in applications for pension credit since Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced in July 2023, stating the payment for this year would primarily be limited to those receiving the benefit. But as of mid-November, thousands more pensioners believed to be eligible had not yet applied for pension credit.
According to the latest official figures, there was also a backlog of 91,000 unprocessed claims, with around 9,000 being processed each week. The government states it has been actively working to boost take-up, emphasizing eligible claims can be backdated. Individuals have until the end of Saturday to apply for pension credit to secure this year's winter fuel payment. The deadline for online applications is 23:59 GMT, and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) opened claim phone lines from 08:00 to 15:15.
The Liberal Democrats are advocating for this deadline to be extended to February 28 and for applications to be processed more quickly, ensuring vulnerable pensioners do not miss out. Previously, all pensioners were eligible for the payment to assist with energy costs, worth between £200 and £300. Since July's policy change, payments are limited to those on low incomes receiving specific benefits like pension credit, meaning more than 10 million people are now excluded.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has defended this decision as necessary due to the public finances’ state, but the move has drawn criticism from numerous charities, unions, and opposition parties. Some Labour MPs have expressed concerns over its impact on low-income pensioners. Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey remarked, "Older people across the country are having to make heart-breaking decisions over whether to heat their homes or eat over the Christmas period. Ministers need to do everything they can to limit the damage of their wrong-headed decision to slash winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners."
Following this announcement, the government initiated efforts to encourage eligible individuals to claim pension credit, with about 150,000 new applications recorded between July 29 and November 17. Despite this surge, it is still only a fraction of the estimated 880,000 pensioners who have yet to apply.
Age UK has seen overwhelming requests for assistance with benefit applications. Its director, Caroline Abrahams, told the BBC, "For some older people, they still haven't heard about pension credit or the form is too overwhelming. There is help available, but of course, the system is overwhelmed at the moment." Analysis from BBC Verify indicates tens of thousands of pensioners might not receive their winter fuel payment before year-end due to the backlog.
The DWP has reportedly deployed 500 additional staff to expedite claims processing. A government spokesperson noted, "Over one million pensioners will still receive the winter fuel payment, and our drive to boost pension credit take-up has seen applications more than double, with over 40,000 more pensioners now receiving it." They continue to urge anyone who believes they may be eligible for pension credit to check their status as eligible claims can be backdated, and those making successful claims before December 21 will receive their payment.
Local councils in Essex are reaching out to thousands of older residents to determine eligibility for the one-off winter fuel payments. Many pensioners can still qualify for up to £300, but urgency is needed, as those wishing to apply must do so for pension credit by midnight on Saturday. The charity Independent Age estimates approximately 19,305 people could be eligible within Essex alone.
According to Morgan Vine, director of policy and influencing at Independent Age, "It is incredibly important they receive every penny they are entitled to" due to the changing government policies. She added, "We know older residents suffering financial hardship are living minimally to save on energy costs, often skipping meals and washing with cold water. We call upon the UK government to develop a pension credit take-up strategy with significant, long-term plans to directly aid those eligible for support."
Over 760,000 potential recipients have yet to claim pension credit payments enabling them to receive winter fuel payments. Changes introduced by Chancellor Reeves restrict these payments to retirees on pension credit or other means-tested benefits. The new claims for pension credit can be backdated for up to three months, creating urgency for pensioners to apply before December 21 and potentially qualify for this year’s £300 payment.
Most winter fuel payment recipients can anticipate their payments being dispatched automatically in November or December. Individuals will receive letters specifying the payment amounts and bank account details for transaction. If no communications have been received by January 29, 2025, recipients are advised to contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre for assistance.
The looming deadline and the bureaucratic hurdles of applying for benefits have prompted numerous councils across different regions, including Thurrock, Southend-on-Sea, Basildon, and Rochford, to mobilize efforts encouraging seniors to secure the assistance they qualify for. Challenges with the application forms have been noted; many elderly applicants cited the complexity of the 24-page input-heavy document as overwhelming.
Government officials, including those from DWP, have reiterated their commitment to supporting pensioners by ensuring the availability of winter fuel payments and boosting take-up for pension credit. The question remains, though – will enough pensioners be reached and supported before it’s too late?
