Anyone one understand pensions - DWP?

[Dave2002]

I claimed and set up my pension with DWP earlier this year. Payment is usually by bank transfer with the code SP. Today, and unexpectedly, I seem to have an extra £100 with the code WFP.

Has anyone else had this? How does one find out what the codes mean?

I assume this is OK.

[johncorrigan]

I claimed and set up my pension with DWP earlier this year. Payment is usually by bank transfer with the code SP. Today, and unexpectedly, I seem to have an extra £100 with the code WFP.

Has anyone else had this? How does one find out what the codes mean?

I assume this is OK.

Winter fuel payment, Dave?

[HighlandDougie]

Winter fuel payment, Dave?

Ah, the mystery is solved. Thanks for that. Now I can spend it without wondering what it was for (oil, not CDs - but maybe Talisker would pass the test as appropriate winter fuel).

[LMcD]

I claimed and set up my pension with DWP earlier this year. Payment is usually by bank transfer with the code SP. Today, and unexpectedly, I seem to have an extra £100 with the code WFP.

Has anyone else had this? How does one find out what the codes mean?

I assume this is OK.

Welcome to the best time of your life!

[oddoneout]

In answer to the question - no I'm not sure DWP always understands pensions.... And yes I would think Talisker is very appropriate, it is a biofuel after all, so extra brownie points!

[Richard Tarleton]

Ah, the mystery is solved. Thanks for that. Now I can spend it without wondering what it was for (oil, not CDs - but maybe Talisker would pass the test as appropriate winter fuel).

Tesco rotate significant price reductions on 10-year old, Skye and Storm

Winter fuel it is - presumably (Dave) you have another household member entitled to it who has also received £100 - otherwise you would be getting £200. So if it's you that pays the fuel bills, make sure you grab that too - it's entirely possible (if they are older than you) that they've received it before and have been keeping quiet about it

[Bryn]

Winter fuel payment, Dave?

I take it you either live with someone else who also qualifies for, and gets, the WFP, or that you live in a care home. Otherwise you should get £200. See https://www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/what-youll-get

[Ah, a duplication of RT's advice, except for the bit about a care home and the link, so will leave it as it is.]

[Richard Tarleton]

Snap, Bryn

[french frank]

I think you'll also get a £10 Christmas bonus (for buying those little Christmas presents) - unless they've abolished that. I got it last year - Dec 4th.

[Richard Tarleton]

Sorry ff I pressed Edit instead of Reply - rookie mistake. I meant to say, I'd never noticed that, and it would probably cost them as much to tell you about it as to give it to you.

[french frank]

I'd never noticed that, and it would probably cost them as much to tell you about it as to give it to you.

Without clicking on the D. Telegraph link, I read this from 2009, indicating that it dates back to the 1960s:

"22 Dec 2009 - Pensioners have been awarded a Christmas bonus of just £10 this year - the same amount as when it was introduced almost four decades ago. ... The £10 Christmas boost was then worth more than the £6.75 basic state pension. The basic pension is now £95.25 a week."

I'm sure they could find a more satisfactory way of distributing the total amount than to give £10 to each person receiving the State Pension/State Benefit/Retirement Pension.

[Dave2002]

I take it you either live with someone else who also qualifies for, and gets, the WFP, or that you live in a care home. Otherwise you should get £200. See https://www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/what-youll-get

[Ah, a duplication of RT's advice, except for the bit about a care home and the link, so will leave it as it is.]

I think mrs d is going to be disappointed as she’ll presumably now only get £100!

[Dave2002]

Tesco rotate significant price reductions on 10-year old, Skye and Storm

Winter fuel it is - presumably (Dave) you have another household member entitled to it who has also received £100 - otherwise you would be getting £200. So if it's you that pays the fuel bills, make sure you grab that too - it's entirely possible (if they are older than you) that they've received it before and have been keeping quiet about it

You are right about age differences, but gender differences also come into the equation. Some women were receiving state pensions earlier than men of the same age. While the extra benefits might seem only to be based on age, whether one receives them may also depend on whether one has claimed the state pension. Those who defer the state pension and/or take a lump sum, may not get the extra payments until they claim.

I’m not sure if it’s possible to have the extra benefits without also being registered to receive the pension - there probably wouldn’t be many people who’d want to do that anyway.

[LMcD]

The Christmas bonus is still paid, normally in the first full week in December. I get my state pension paid weekly, rather than monthly - I just like the thought of the DWP not hanging on to any of it for longer than necessary!

[Bryn]

You are right about age differences, but gender differences also come into the equation. Some women were receiving state pensions earlier than men of the same age. While the extra benefits might seem only to be based on age, whether one receives them may also depend on whether one has claimed the state pension. Those who defer the state pension and/or take a lump sum, may not get the extra payments until they claim.

I’m not sure if it’s possible to have the extra benefits without also being registered to receive the pension - there probably wouldn’t be many people who’d want to do that anyway.

I did not start claiming my State Pension until more than 5 years after I bercame eligible to do so. That notwithstanding, I have been receiving the top rate WFP since reaching 65. The WFP is in no way dependant on claiming the State Pension.