Winter Fuel Allowance, claim before 21.9.12

I understand that things have changed as a result of a very recent EU finding. 

Does anyone have the full info on this  please ?

 That info is out of date, tamaraessex.

Qualifying by age this year will mean you have to have been born before 5 July 1951 (it mirrors the women's state pension age).  A recent EU ruling said the residency rule of living in UK was unfair and that all British citizens living in the EEA reaching that age should get the allowance.

Whereas the award was automatic when reaching the age stipulated, you now have to apply for it.  You have to prove a "genuine and sufficient link with the UK" to get it.  Therefore it is not going to be payable to "all" expats but will bring a lot more people into the net.  

However, you may find this is a double edged sword.  The government is not happy about having to pay everyone living in Europe this allowance (remember it will also be able to be claimed by those in the Canary Islands and other places which hardly get cold in the winter) and may bring in a temperature clause.  The extra payments will raise the cost from £30 million (the amount currently paid to expats) to £100 million a year.  You may find that, even if you were eligible under the old rules, you may lose the allowance in future if the temperature for a certain amount of time each day rule is brought in (as will, likely, those who live in the SE of England as well).  But until that comes in, fill in the claim form and send it off, but not to the International Pension Centre in Newcastle as some sites are saying.  The address to send it to is:

Winter Fuel Payment Team
Department for Work and Pensions
PO Box 10142
Annesley
Nottingham
NG15 5WY

Still, I suppose the £200 per household will pay for those swimming pools to get cleaned or the aircon left on all night in August.  

According to the Round Town News, that date of 21/9/12 is the cut off date to receive the payment in November & December. The allowance can still be claimed until March 2013.

Aly, can you find the reference you quote, as i just found this on the RTN web page:-

Thursday, 13 September 2012 14:22

According to the form itself, you can apply until 31st March next year, for this coming winter (2012/2013), but to qualify you must meet the criteria during the week of 17-23rd September 2012, i.e. be resident in an EEA country during that week.

Bobaol, are you sure about the address? The address you gave is for claims from the UK, but the following is an extract from the site: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Pensionsandretirementplanning/Benefits/BenefitsInRetirement/DG_198331 and gives Newcastle's address.

Roberto has given the correct info. It is all available on the offical website (the link he has posted). I have said it before and will say it again the offical website is user friendly and contains the correct info, I just don't understand why people don't check it out first before posting a question and getting well meaning but incorrect answers.

Poppy
I just don't understand why people don't check it out first before posting a question and getting well meaning but incorrect answers.

I don't think there are any questions in the thread.  I started the thread to 'remind' those who wanted to, but had not do so yet, about claiming the allowance.

johnzx, you've quoted what I read. To get the money paid to you in November or December, you must claim by 21/9. But claims can still be made until end of March.

I think I have read elsewhere that the government said they would not pay 'back claims', but I have no doubt that someone somewhere is currently challenging that, so keep your fingers crossed! 

'I don't think there are any questions in the thread;"   OK, then also include comments, answers, opinions. I think most people would have understood the message I was trying to convey. I would also add that the English language press in Spain (and everywhere come to that) is often misleading or just plain wrong in the stuff it publishes. Anyway I wont get involved in the last word syndrome and will now leave everyone to it!

I agree some posters do get it wrong and also often the English press in Spain do too  (I have had over 1,000 readers letters published in Spain, many correcting errors) but if one wants to exclude all the posts which are wrong, how does one let the posters, who are going to make those posts, aware that they are wrong, before they do it ?

Whilst in principle your suggestion has merit it could also seriously impair the quality of debate.  Now had to said that posters ought to refrain from making personal, and rude comments,  and straying way off thread (opps, as we are doing !!!!)  I would agree 100%.

No suggestion of banning anyone for giving duff information (????).........my original comment was directed to the fact  that the offical government website regarding UK benefits and allowances is very user friendly and I just can't fathom why anyone with such a query/comment/remark/suggestion and anything else I haven't thought of to do with benefits and allowances doesn't first look there for up to date, factual information and save much confusion and possible inconvenience that no matter how well intentioned wrong  information can cause.  It's really quite easy so if anyone hasn't tried using  it yet perhaps you will be pleasantly surprised!

Hi Poppy, 

              Of course most questions posed here (as in deed in everyday life)  can often be answered by looking on the internet, but if everyone did that then this forum would all but cease to exist.  So I think we need to be tolerant.  As I am sure most of us are.

 As I said, you can lead a horse....

I frequently encounter tourists on my street asking which way to the beach; when I point down the hill, they often thank me politely and continue walking up the hill. Ho hum. Poppyseed, cheer yourself up by visiting the new passport renewal thread - there's a bloke down the pub who's about to post some nonsense on there!