Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced plans for an additional payment of £300 to be sent to those who usually receive the Winter Fuel Payment.
The move by the Chancellor aims to tackle the mounting cost-of-living crisis which is affecting millions of people across the UK.
The payment will be received by pensioners in November, and will be a welcome boost for those on a low income.
The Winter Fuel Payment is a benefit paid once a year to older people across the UK who receive a limited income.
Those who receive the Winter Fuel Payment will have £300 extra to contribute towards rising bills
Steve Parsons
If you were born on or before September 26 1955 you will be eligible for the payment
Jonathan Brady
The benefit was introduced to help people cover the additional cost of heating their home over the winter months and is usually between £100 and £30.
Thanks to additional help from the Government, struggling pensioners will receive double the amount this year, due to extra funding being permitted in light of the cost of living crisis.
You will automatically receive the Winter Fuel Payment if you are eligible and either get the State Pension or get another social security benefit (not Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, Child Benefit or Universal Credit).
If you were born on or before September, 26, 1955 or you lived in the UK for at least one day during the week of 20 to 26 September 2021, you will be eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment this year.
If you lived in Switzerland or another EEA country in that period, you may still be eligible, but you won't get the payment automatically and will have to apply.
The same applies if you can prove a sufficient link with the UK, like having lived and worked here, or having family here, but were not living here in the qualifying week.
If you have been in hospital for more than a year getting free treatment and in some other circumstances, you will not be eligible for the payment.
The Government has confirmed that pensioners can expect the £300 boost in November or December this year.