Can you be ?200 warmer?

Thousands of elderly householders are missing out on millions of pounds in winter fuel payments because they have not claimed them. Many could lose their right to claim if they do not do so by 31 March.

The problem was highlighted last week by Liberal Democrat work and pensions spokesman Steve Webb. The Government has set 31 March as a deadline for claiming the £200 a head payments for the winter now coming to an end. The cash is for everyone over 60, but only women over 60 and men over 64 receive them automatically through their entitlements to state pensions.

Men aged between 60 and 64, who are not eligible for state pensions, must apply. The Liberal Democrats have calculated that up to £9 million may be lying unclaimed.

Separately, a much larger sum, £98 million, is owed to men who were not originally entitlement to winter fuel payments when they were introduced in 1997/98. Men aged between 60 and 64 qualified only after the European Court ruled that leaving them out was discriminatory.

Men who had reached this age before the Government was forced to change its policy were entitled to claim back payments for the 1997-1999 winters.

The Liberal Democrats have established, by asking parliamentary questions, that 700,000 men have yet to claim this entitlement. If all the those affected were owed the maximum of £140 the total in unclaimed amounts would be£98 million.

There is no cut-off date for payments still owed for the 1997-99 winters.

Webb believes Ministers could do more to help. 'When the Government wants to collect taxes they seem to have little trouble in tracking people down,' he says.

How the payments work

· The winter fuel payment is available to people who
are 60 by certain dates in the year.

· The money goes automatically to those on state
pensions, income support and other benefits.

· Men aged 60 who do not receive any state benefits
must claim the payment.

· Anyone who thinks they may be eligible for winter
fuel payments or backdated payments can obtain
forms from www.dwp.gov.uk, or by visiting a local
Department of Social Security office.