UK households miss out on £300 DWP payment | Personal Finance | Finance

Thousands of households across the UK are missing out on winter fuel payments from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), worth up to £300.

Data analysis firm Policy in Practice (PIP) has warned, ahead of the looming deadline to qualify for payment, that more than £70 million in benefits are unclaimed, with more than 28,500 households eligible are still not registered to benefit from these benefits.

The company’s figures suggest thousands of people living in West Yorkshire are at risk of missing out on winter fuel payments this year because they are not currently claiming pension credit.

PIP said around £22m of pension credit was unclaimed in Leeds, £20m in Bradford, £12m in Kirklees, £10m in Wakefield and £6m in pounds sterling in Calderdale.

Meanwhile, research by insurance company Royal London found that more than 40% of retirees in Leeds and Bradford have not checked their eligibility for pension credit.

The government said it has written to 120,000 pensioners to encourage them to apply and the DWP has deployed 500 extra staff to process applications as quickly as possible before the December 21 deadline to benefit from the winter fuel payment .

New figures show that 42,500 more households are now in receipt of pension credit since the government launched its awareness campaign and the average weekly number of claims has more than doubled since July to 150,000.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall told MPs earlier this month: “I would like every pensioner entitled to pension credit, up to £3,900, to get it. I think it is a scandal that more than 800,000 pensioners, the poorest pensioners, are losing up to £3,900 of pension credit to which they should be entitled.

You must live in England, Scotland or Wales and have reached State retirement age to qualify for pension credit. You can apply online via GOV.UK or by calling the Pension Credit claim line on 0800 99 1234.

Pensions Minister Emma Reynolds MP added: “We are pleased to see that more pensioners are now benefiting from Pension Credit and that our staff are processing applications as quickly as possible.

“As we approach December 21, my message is clear: check whether you are eligible for pension credit and then apply for it, as this unlocks a range of benefits, including winter fuel payments. “