Charity urges older people to claim their £200 from the Winter Fuel Support Scheme before it closes at the end of this month

Welsh Government scheme supporting low-income households with fuel costs 

Age Cymru is urging eligible older people to claim their £200 from the Winter Fuel Support Scheme before it closes on 28 February 2023. 

The Welsh Government introduced the scheme back in September 2022 to support low-income households during the cost-of-living crisis. 

To make a claim people must complete, and submit, an application form from their local authority before the deadline date. The forms are available on your local authority website.  

However, if you are unsure about applying via the website contact your local authority to ask about what additional support is available or whether there are alternative ways of making a claim.   

The scheme is additional to the Winter Fuel Payment and other payments provided by the UK Government.  It is open to households where an applicant or partner receives benefits such as Pension Credit, Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, and the Armed Forces Independence payment amongst others.  

If a householder, or their partner who is liable for the fuel costs, does not receive any of the qualifying benefits, the householder may be eligible for a payment if they have a qualifying person living with them. 

Age Cymru’s chief executive Victoria Lloyd says: “I would urge every older person living in Wales who is eligible to claim from the Winter Fuel Support Scheme to do so before the end of the month.  “This scheme recognises the significant additional costs that people are experiencing this year.  And don’t be afraid to ask your local authority for additional support in making a claim if you don’t feel confident about using their website.” 

ends 

Notes to Editors 

The scheme is open to households where an applicant, or their partner, is in receipt of one of the following qualifying benefits at any time between 1 September 2022 and 31 January 2023: 

• Income Support 
• Income Based Job Seekers Allowance 
• Employment and Support Allowance 
• Universal Credit 
• Working Tax Credits 
• Child Tax Credits 

• Pension Credit 
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP) 
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA) 
• Attendance Allowance 
• Carers Allowance 

• Contributory Benefits 
• Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS) 
• Armed Forces Independence Payment 
• Constant Attendance Allowance 
• War Pension Mobility Supplement 

If a householder, or their partner who is liable for the fuel costs does not receive any of the qualifying benefits, the householder may be eligible for a payment if they have a qualifying person living with them. 

A qualifying person must meet all the following: 

• occupy the householder’s home as their primary residence 
• are a dependent child or another adult living with the householder, or their partner 
• they receive one of the following benefits: 

• Attendance Allowance 
• Disability Living Allowance 
• Personal Independence Payment 
• Armed Forces Independence Payment 
• Constant Attendance Allowance 

• War Pension Mobility Supplement 

Applicants must also be responsible for paying the energy bills for the property.