MP urges pensioners to claim Winter Fuel Payments by end of March deadline
March 5, 2003 12:00 AM
Local MP, John Thurso is urging local pensioners to make sure they apply for the £200 Winter Fuel Payment before 31st March 2003.
John Thurso said:
"Anyone aged 60 or over on or before 22 September 2002 may be entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment this year. The majority are paid automatically, but those who are not receiving a social security benefit, excluding Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Child Benefit, or who did not receive a payment last year, will need to make a claim.
By and large, it is men aged 60 and 65 who miss out because they are not yet receiving a pension and don't realise they have to make a claim. However, I would urge anyone who is not sure of his or her position to contact the Pensions Service before the deadline."
Notes:
1. There are likely to be some 250,000 people across the UK who will not automatically be paid the Winter Fuel Payment. At the end of November 205,000 claims had been received; this leaves around 45,000 men yet to make a claim.
2. Last year, over 38,000 payments were made for £100 instead of £200. The likely cause of many of these mistakes is due to the incorrect assumption by the Pensions Service that the married men making a claim for Winter Fuel Payment are married to women aged 60 or over.
3. The Winter Fuel Payment Helpline is 0845 9 15 15 15 - (0845 601 5613 for textphone users). Lines are open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 4.30pm and calls are charged at local rates.
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