The North Ireland Communities Minister has announced one-off payments for pensioners who are no longer eligible for the Winter Fuel payment after the UK government announced changes in the 2024/25 WFP.
NI Winter Fuel Payment 2024
On 19 November 2024, the Northern Ireland Communities Minister, Gordon Lyons announced relief for pensioners who were cut off from the Winter fuel payment due to the UK government’s announced changes. As per the announcement, the eligible pensioners will receive a one-off payment of up to £100.
The government has allocated £17 million to support the affected pensioners. The pensioners do not need to make any application to receive this one-off support. The Unite campaign to revoke the changes has got some results, though the payment is not the usual £200 but it has music needed support for the affected pensioners.
According to government data, around 250,000 pensioners will lose their WFP means-test payment due to the change, which would lead to financial stress among the pensioners as the energy bill rises in winter. The community minister has opposed the UK government’s WFP policy as it burdens millions of pensioners with the approaching winter.
Who will be eligible for the NI Winter Fuel payment 2024?
The announced WFP partial support for the Northern Ireland pensioners affected due to the changes will receive the payout based on the following previous WFP eligible conditions:
- After the 2024 UK government WFP changes, you are excluded from the benefit.
- You must be born before 23 September 1958, meaning age over 66 in the qualifying week.
Exclusion:
- You are living in a care home from 24 June to 22 Sep 2024.
- You committed a crime and were in prison in the qualifying week.
- For more than a year, you are in a hospital and getting free treatment.
The Department of Communities has announced that fuel support payments will be offered to only one pensioner of a household who is affected due to WFP changes.
When will the NI-affected Pensioners receive the WFP payout?
Minister Lyod has said the payment will be automatically made to the affected pensioners based on the government data. The department will use the £17 million fund to distribute the payout to the eligible pensioners.
The department is working on making the payment as soon as possible to the affected pensioners. With current legislation and funding allocation, the community minister estimates the affected pensioners will receive the £100 payment by the end of March 2025 or before that.
The department will process the payment in the same way the pensioners used to receive their winter fuel payment before the changes. The government is committed to making the payment as seamless as possible, however, if you have any query about the fuel support payment, you can contact the Department at 0800 232 1271, send an email, or text ADVICE to 079 8440 5248 during the working day and hours.
What are the new winter Fuel Payment rules?
The Labour government introduced changes in WFP rules in July, which offers financial support to all the elderly reached State Pension age to cover their energy bills in winter. According to the changes, the low-income pensioners who receive means-tested benefits, such as Pension credit will be entitled to 2024-25 fuel payments.
The WFP changes cover all the pensioners living in England, Northern Ireland, and Wales and receive one of the following means-tested benefits in the qualifying week:
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- Working Tax Credit
- Universal Credit
- Job seeker Allowance (income-based)
- Child Tax Credit
- Employment and Support Allowance
The UK government has encouraged pensioners to register for Pension Credits to receive the Winter Fuel benefit. The government said the pensioners will receive more payment as the state pension or pension credit will rise under the triple lock arrangement.
Millions of Pensioners from England, Wales, and Northern Ireland were cut off from these payments. The pensioners who depend on the WFP for their increased energy bill in winter will be affected the most.
Will the other government follow the NI regarding the Winter fuel payment cut?
The Northern Ireland government has taken the initiative to address the problem of affected pensioners with partial support. However, it is not necessary for other governments to reverse the changes and provide relief to the affected pensioners.
But, it could add pressure on the Wales government to take the initiative to address the pensioner affected by the sudden changes in WFP rules. The Northern Ireland initiative can boost the spirit of pensioners who oppose the WFP changes and demand the government reverse the WFP as it was earlier.
Talking about Scotland, the Scottish government has ended the universal entitlement for pensioners to receive the payment. The Scottish government has replaced the WFP with the Pension Age Winter Heating payment of up to £200 (for individuals or couples aged between 66 and 79) and £300 for (individuals and couples aged 80 or above).
Northern Ireland Winter Fuel payment will be granted to the eligible pensioners approximately 58,000 under the changes rule, whereas it will provide partial support to millions of pensioners who were cut off from the benefit. The national campaign of Unite against the WFP rules has paid off, the pensioner will receive the one-off payment by March 2025.
