Question concerning the Winter Fuel Payment for a mixed aged couple.

brian1971
brian1971 Online Community Member Posts: 17 Connected
edited December 2024 in Money and bills

I am of pension age and my wife is not. She receives Income Related Employment and Support Allowance and I receive the monthly state pension. Last year I received the Winter Fuel Payment and this year it appears I might not. I rang the Winter Fuel Payment office was advised to ring the ESA office for advice. The lady I spoke with said I was entitled to the payment, paused for a moment, and said I was not. This was not the clarity I was seeking. I appreciate that the lady I spoke with was not a proper adviser on this matter of course. I wondered if anybody here can shed some light. If I need to add further information about the circumstances of my wife and I that is fine. Many thanks in advance for any information.

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Comments

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 63,401 Championing

    If your wife’s ESA is definitely income related then I would expect you to be named on her claim and your state pension would be deducted in full.

    This would mean you will be entitled to the WFP. If her ESA is all contributions based then there would be no entitlement.

  • brian1971
    brian1971 Online Community Member Posts: 17 Connected

    Once again, so many thanks Poppy. My wife gets income related and contribution based esa. So that means I will not get the Winter Fuel Payment. Thank you for the clarification.

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 63,401 Championing

    You're welcome but you're not correct. As her ESA is a mixture of both, then you will be entitled to it. When an ESA claim is a mixture of both CB and Income Related it is known as an Income Related claim.

    https://www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/eligibility

  • brian1971
    brian1971 Online Community Member Posts: 17 Connected

    Many thanks Poppy. I am pleased to be corrected :) I will ring the office concerning to the WFP.

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 63,401 Championing

    You're welcome. The link I posted says if you don't receive a payment by 29th January then you need to ring them.

  • brian1971
    brian1971 Online Community Member Posts: 17 Connected

    OK will do :)

  • ripple
    ripple Online Community Member Posts: 10 Listener

    apologies for joining this string but may have relevance. Please advise if you want this as a separate post Poppy. Thx

    My husband claimed ESA Income based and contribution based ESA. I was on ESA Contribution based and was included in the claim. I claimed State Pension in August and continued to be named on the claim until my husband also retired in November when his ESA then ceased. I was told I could claim then told I was not entitled to WFP as I did not claim a relevant benefit personal to me. My will not be entitled which I agree with. I said so, I have been able to claim my dental etc up until November so obviously recognised yet I’m nit for WFP. How unfair is that.

  • ripple
    ripple Online Community Member Posts: 10 Listener

    typo my “husband”will not be entitled which I agree with. I also have to say trying to get hold of someone to talk to over the phone was an absolute nightmare.

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 63,401 Championing

    @ripple the qualifying week for the WFP was between 16th and 22nd September 2024.

    As you were named on your husbands ESA then you would be entitled to the payment. See link.
    https://www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/eligibility
    who told you that you’re not entitled?

  • ripple
    ripple Online Community Member Posts: 10 Listener

    DWP yesterday. He did the application too and came back and said no.

  • ripple
    ripple Online Community Member Posts: 10 Listener

    one thing I am thinking, ESA messed up my husbands claim despite many notifications that I was going to get my State Pension they kept putting me down as receiving ESA when I was clearly not, I was on State Pension after many telephone calls ESA one advisor came back and said oh. That’s not right I’ll send a email, they eventually put this right and revised it believe it or not in late October when they corrected their mistake. Clearly their mistake. Could this be why?

  • ripple
    ripple Online Community Member Posts: 10 Listener

    NB letter was received 16 sept.

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 63,401 Championing

    Has the Income Related part of his ESA continued? If it hasn’t then this would be the reason why.

    If he received more than £138.20/week then at least part of it would have been income related and you will definitely qualify.

  • ripple
    ripple Online Community Member Posts: 10 Listener

    yes he received income related combined with contribution esa to the day he retired.

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 63,401 Championing

    Then I see no reason why you're not entitled. Did you ring the WFP number?

    Telephone: 0800 731 0160

    Textphone: contact Relay UK on 18001 then 0800 731 0160

    British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service if you’re on a computer - find out how to use the service on mobile or tablet Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm