Thousands of Brits can apply for this year's £300 Winter Fuel Payment from today.

From today, pensioners who need to claim to get this year's Winter Fuel Payment can do so over the phone as phone applications have now opened. The update only affects those who are eligible but live outside of the UK.

Earlier this year, the new Labour Government means-tested the DWP benefit, so instead of all pensioners over the age of 66 getting between £100 and £300 in support for energy costs this winter, only those claiming certain benefits will.

Under the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) rules, you can still receive the money if you live outside of the UK. However, the new rules will apply, and you can only be eligible if you receive "Pension Credit or a benefit equivalent to Pension Credit or another qualifying benefit" in the country where you live during the qualifying week.

This year the qualifying week was from Monday, September 16 to Sunday, September 22. It's important to note that the rules for claiming - and the countries you can live in a claim - have remained the same. So if you do not live in the UK, you’re only eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment if you claim a benefit equivalent to Pension Credit (or another qualfying benefits) and:

The UK is responsible for paying your benefits

  • You moved to an eligible country before 31 December 2020 and are covered by the Withdrawal Agreement
  • You were born before 23 September 1958
  • You have a genuine and sufficient link to the UK - this can include having lived or worked in the UK, and having family in the UK

DWP guidance says if you are a British or Irish national living in Ireland, you do not need to have moved by 31 December 2020, but you will need to meet all of the other eligibility rules.

Applications through the post opened on September 30, with phone applications opening today. To claim by post you will need to download and fill in a Winter Fuel Payment claim form, and the IPCF091 form if you’re a UK national or UK dual national living in an eligible country other than Ireland. To claim over the phone, you can contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre on 0191 218 7777. Before you call, you will need to know:

  • your National Insurance number
  • your bank or building society details
  • your BIC and IBAN numbers
  • the date you were married or entered into a civil partnership (if appropriate)

Full list of eligible countries for Winter Fuel Allowance

  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Bulgaria
  • Croatia
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • Germany
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Latvia
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Romania
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland