On 29 July, the UK Government announced changes to the eligibility for winter fuel payments (WFP). They’ll now only be paid to claimants in receipt of state pension credit (SPC). Here, our adviser Luke lets you know how you can check if you’re eligible, and what else you can do to make sure you’re able to afford to keep your home warm this winter.

Statistics from the Department for Work and Pensions show that 800,000 people across the UK who could claim state pension credit don’t claim this benefit.

If you’re a pensioner who is currently not claiming SPC, Citizens Advice can help you check to see whether you’re entitled to this and any other pension age benefit.

You can use our free online benefit calculator to find out what you’re entitled to, and request a call back from one of our advisers if you need more information on how you can claim.

You can also call us and speak to an adviser who can conduct a full and detailed benefit check to understand what your entitlements are. Means-tested benefits can be maximused by applying for disability benefits like attendance allowance – you might be entitled to extra additions like carer’s allowance or for severe disability. These additional benefits are useful in their own right, and can form an important part of preventing pensioner fuel poverty.

If you’re unable to get your application in during the qualifying week, we encourage you to make sure that you’ve made your claim by 21 December to enable entitlement to include winter fuel payment.

Even if you’re not eligible for winter fuel payment, you might still be struggling to pay to heat your home this winter.