Annual Winter Fuel Payment 2022

Iam64

Norah - honestly I do assertive well. You can’t assert yourself with automated services. Or with obdurate people who simply repeat -we don’t deal with that, no I can’t transfer you, then tell you to repeat the process that’s failed 3 times.
I wrote to my mp. He’s responded asking for my NI number so he can raise this direct with the cold bureaucracy. I said in my message to him, I’m competent, literate, English my first language, I can afford to use my mobile, my laptop on the gov.uk site directed me to the numbers I phoned. If I can’t negotiate the system, what about people with less resources

I'm sorry I insulted you.

You sound competent to me, I can get put off, thus my approach.

Brilliant writing "what about others with less resources"? We all know many fall through the cracks. Well done you.

My husband died, pensions continued to be paid for a very short while. Then I told all the authorities and had to pay the pensions back immediately. That plus the sudden decrease in incoming money, it is very difficult to deal with, on top of the grief. Many people have no idea about the money aspect and many don`t want to know, until it is too late

karmalady - I remember that torture so well. My husband died, leaving me in shock/devastated with four young children - and, suddenly, they demanded back 'overpayments' before anything was sorted. I screeched down the phone 'I have no money - you'll have to wait!'.

Hetty58 and karmalady, I’m fortunate to have savings to cover me as the pension people simply take the money out of my bank. Being left bereaved with 4 young children, the money being demanded sounds beyond grim.
It’s such an expensive time with hospital then funeral expenses. It shouldn’t have happened if the tell us once scheme was effective

I know it is off topic but I remember so well going into the registry office and immediately having to fork out x pounds. I saw all those drained faces sitting in the waiting room, many will have been caught off guard with no money to hand

I thought tell once was pretty good really but such a lot to do afterwards. I hope you are coping Iam, it is a very difficult journey

Thanks karmalady, coping puts it well. It’s been difficult for months but bereavement and all these stressful admin type tasks are more intrusive than need be imo.
Your comment feels on topic for me, I know I’m fortunate to have savings to help me but I was so aware of people less fortunate. If I had only a state pension I’d be in a real mess, on top of being bereaved.

Just out of interest...has anyone actually received winter fuel payments yet?

I've not received my Winter fuel payment. Having just checked my bank account, I see the payment last year 2021, went in on November 16th.

Aldom Checked my account and it went in the 18th November last year. My surname begins with C so hopefully soon

My WFP went into my account on Nov 25th, my surname is about a third of the way through the alphabet.

Yes, my WFP arrived in my bank account yesterday (28th November). Over-80's amount. Initial to my surname is close to bottom of alphabet so I was pleasantly surprised, thought it might be a lot later.

Wonder if its paid by age and surname?...does it get paid on the usual pension day?..

My WFP arrived today £500 arrived today.

Name at the start of the alphabet and my state pension credits on a Friday, so no idea on the order it’s paid.

No sign of my WFP yet - surname towards the end of the alphabet.

It’s worrying to read how many GNs when suddenly (or not) bereaved, simply don’t have a clue about finance. It may seem boring and confusing, but everyone should be aware of what they have, where it is and how to access it in a hurry, or have enough in their own names to cover whatever costs might arise until finances/pensions are sorted out.
I have a friend who has always been well off, but has only just realized by how much. However, her DH looks after everything and she doesn’t know where ‘her’ money is (way over the £85K - so more than one provider) or how to contact their financial advisor - the mind boggles.

Just checked online, I got mine today, surname near the end of the alphabet, state pension was last Friday.

Morning all. I've just checked my account and the Winter fuel payment went in today.

not in yet. Nov 8th last year. 10th dec the year before

grannycakes

£200 is the winter heating allowance - they are adding the £400 cost of living payment to this. This is meant to help with the other cost of living rises particularly food. This is why its not going to the energy provoders

This is not correct. The winter fuel allowance ranges from £300, depending on your circumstances and the government is adding an extra £300 to this. The £400 cost of living support with energy bills is entirely separate and is paid to the energy companies who reimburse their customers in various ways, depending on individual company policy.

I got my wfp today. I'm under 70 and not on pension credit, so I'm not getting the larger amounts but very grateful nonetheless.

Grannycakes you are confusing two different payments.

Each household ( account holder)is receiving £400 paid directly to the energy supplieron a monthlyb asis of £66/£67. some energy suppliers are using this to deduct that amount from the bill, others are sening it on to account holders bank account.

The Winter Fuel Payment (normally £200 for under-80's ) and £300 for 0ver-80's) now has an extra £300 (this year only) and paid exactly as laid out in the original OP. Paid directly into our bank accounts.

No sign of my winter fuel payment so far. The £66 arrives as promised in my bank account though.

my wfp came into my account today and has gone straight into a savings account, to be held safe until next winter. I am in the middle of a 2 year fixed rate deal so it will hit me when the deal ends

At a group meeting today....and we wondered is it being distributed by area/county?....

Iam64, this was before the 'Tell us once' was introduced and I regretted telling them so soon - but wasn't thinking straight at the time, of course.

Georgesgran, yes, it's a good idea to have funds to tide you over. Still, back then, we didn't have savings or even anticipate any need for them. We were young and scraping by on a single income. Thankfully, the mortgage insurance paid out.