HMRC is taking back £200 from state pensioners who have received the Winter Fuel Payment. Winter Fuel Allowances are paid out at different rates, with £200 for those born between 1946 and 1960.
Income Threshold Triggers Clawback
If your total income is over £35,000, HMRC will take your Winter Fuel Payment back. Your partner’s income does not count towards your total. Because people born between 1951 and 1960 are on the new state pension, it means they already have £12,547 from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in the form of the full state pension.
That means state pensioners earning just £22,453 risk losing the Winter Fuel Payment. You’ll get either £200 if you were born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960 or £300 if you were born before 28 September 1946.
Impact of Living Arrangements and Benefits
If you live with someone else who’s eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment then payment may be different if you get one of the following benefits: Pension Credit, Universal Credit or income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
If you do not get any of the benefits then you’ll get a payment of £100 if you and the person you live with were both born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960. Or you'll get £100 if you were born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960 but the person you live with was born before 28 September 1946 or £200 if you were born before 28 September 1946 but the person you live with was born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960. Or you'll get £150 if you and the person you live with were both born before 28 September 1946.
Joint Claims and Payment Details
If you and your partner jointly claim any of the benefits then one of you will get a payment of either £200 if both of you were born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960 or £300 if one or both of you were born before 28 September 1946. You’ll be paid into the bank account your benefits are usually paid into.
If you get any of the benefits (not as part of a joint claim) then you will get a payment of either £200 if you were born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960 or £300 if you were born before 28 September 1946.
