The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has revealed the exact code that will appear in your bank account when cost of living help worth up to £600 is paid.

Pensioner households will receive both the Winter Fuel Payment, which is worth up to £300 depending on your circumstances, and the £300 pensioner cost of living payment. Payments have already started to be made to some eligible households, the DWP confirmed.

The money will show in your bank account with your National Insurance number followed by "DWP WFP" for people in Great Britain, or "DFC WFP" for people in Northern Ireland. Most people will be paid automatically and should receive a letter saying how much they'll get - but there may be some incidences where you need to apply.

Winter Fuel Payment explained

Winter Fuel Payments are awarded to people born before September 25, 1957. You also need to live in UK - although in some cases, you can claim if you’ve moved abroad - during the qualifying week of September 18 to September 24, 2023.

This qualifying period changes every year but is normally the week beginning from the third Monday in September. Most people who receive the following benefits will get the Winter Fuel Payment automatically:

  • State Pension

  • Pension Credit

  • Attendance Allowance

  • Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

  • Carers Allowance

  • Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

  • Income Support

  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

  • Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

  • awards from the War Pensions Scheme

  • Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

  • Incapacity Benefit

  • Industrial Death Benefit

You may need to apply if you don't receive these benefits, you’ve deferred your state pension, or you live abroad. If you do not live in the UK, you’re only able to get the Winter Fuel Payment if you moved to an eligible country before January 1, 2021, and you have a genuine and sufficient link to the UK.

You can find more information about how to apply for the Winter Fuel Payment on GOV.UK. The deadline for you to make a claim for is March 31, 2024. How much exactly you'll get will vary from £250 to £600, depending on if you live alone or in a couple, or what benefits you get.

There are certain circumstances where you won’t be eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment. This includes if you:

  • Have been in hospital getting free treatment for more than a year

  • Need permission to enter the UK and your granted leave says that you cannot claim public funds

  • Were in prison for the whole of the week of 18 to 24 September, 2023

If you live in a care home, you won’t receive the payment if both the following apply:

  • You get Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) or income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

  • You lived in a care home for the whole time from June 26 to September 24, 2023