The Department for Work and Pensions is handing out £300 Winter Fuel Payments to state pensioners who lost them – alongside an apology. Elaine Yates, who is living with lung disease, was contacted by the DWP after heading onto ITV Good Morning Britain to discuss losing the £300 payout.
The 75-year-old said: “I don’t use my oven unless it’s really [needed]. I think I had five cooked meals in that oven last year – I would rather have the heating on because of my lung disease. If there is mould in the house, obviously my asthma will be worse and I have to consider my health.
“It’s cruel… I’ve heard nothing. Absolutely nothing from that date so I don’t know whether I am entitled to it or not.” She explained: “About half an hour after, I got a phone call from a lovely man from the DWP and he said that his manager had told him to get in touch with me, they had checked all my paperwork, and I was entitled to Pension Credit… He said ‘we’re very sorry this has happened’.”
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Elaine added: “There are thousands out there that are really, really, struggling and it’s so unfair that they are not processing these applications.” Elaine said: “The most important thing is that I can go and get my eyes tested. I haven’t had my eyes tested for over a year because I knew I couldn’t afford the glasses and now I can go and get them tested, which is a huge thing… The fact that I’ve got this allowance now is just going to make so much difference.”
She continued: “I can put the heating on and I can have it on longer… I’m so grateful to everybody… I’m speaking for all the thousands out there.” A statement from the Department of Work and Pensions said: “We understand that some may need additional help this winter, which is why we have put in place a range of support, including a warm home discount, and we have extended the household support fund.
“We continue to work at pace to process Pension Credit claims with a 51% increase in the number of cleared Pension Credit claims since July.”