did not receive winter fuel allowance

jaggededge

Hello

We did not receive our winter fuel allowance for the year 2024/2025. Despite the fact that my husband is of pension age and I claim IR-ESA for both of us. Under the last government these winter fuel payments were automatically put into my bank account regular as clockwork early November, but not with this new government. They did not give us the winter fuel allowance as they are obviously making errors.

I was too scared to contact the DWP in case they started trying to make me migrate to UC. This I really dont want. Also, since my husband turned pension age and was told his ESA claim was going to stop and he no longer was entitled to ESA in his own right , I have been making a claim for the two of us. I still get the yearly tax code of 1270 but my husband no longer receives this tax code from the HMRC. Will my husband still be eligible for the state pension when I am forced off ESA and have to claim for my own state pension in 2 years time? Or does my husband have to make NI contributions since he no longer gets ESA in his own right and no longer gets the NI contributions paid for with ESA claim as I do?

Please can you advise?

Thanks

OverlyAnxious

Hi,

The criteria changed for WFP last year. I don't think your joint claim would make your husband eligible, despite being above pension age. I think he would have needed a qualifying benefit for himself.

Income related ESA is ending this year, so you will be migrated to Universal Credit before reaching state pension age. Again, that will be a joint claim as a mixed-age couple.

You can check the National Insurance contributions for both of you on the government website. You may also be eligible for Pension Credit when both above State Pension age.

jaggededge

Hello

Thanks for the response, although I have read on many sites including age uk see below that states that the main claimant will benefit automatically..

How to claim Winter Fuel Payment

If you or your partner claims Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance, the payment should go to the main claimant of the benefit automatically.

I hate the idea of migrating to UC, it really makes me feel sick. As I dont want to claim online and I only want to claim by paper form, and I dont even want to do this. I have always been contacted by letter from DWP and this is the way I ned to be contacted, instead of email, phone text etc as I suffer from stress related disorder and I cannot cope with this new stress.

Anyway, am not sure how to find NI contributions and was wondering if my husband needs to be paying them voluntarily due to no longer having an IR ESa claim in his own right?

Thanks

Kimmy87

You can bypass the online UC account, an application can be made by phone, statements would be posted out and if you needed to contact them you can telephone.

Citizens Advice have a Help to Claim service.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/claiming/contact-us-about-universal-credit/

There is no paper form to apply for UC, that I know of.

OverlyAnxious

You can check National Insurance contributions here:

Check your National Insurance record - GOV.UK

Your husband may have already accumulated enough over previous years.

Regarding WFP, you are right and I stand corrected. As your husband is named on your ESA claim you should have received WFP. You can contact the DWP using their online form or by telephone to ask why you haven't received it this year. I understand if you aren't able or don't wish to do that though.

Winter Fuel Payment: Check if you need to claim - GOV.UK

WhatThe

(from Age UK website)

If you haven't received your payment by 29 January 2025, contact the Department for Work and Pensions or call the Winter Fuel Payment helpline on 0800 731 0160.