Heating Allowance And Bus Pass

[Denisdiamond]

A friend of mine had his 60th birthday last month and would like to know when he will receive his heating allowance and his bus pass. Can you help? Thank you.

[pauln90]

https://www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/eligibility

The above shows criteria

[Mamyalynne]

I think he is a bit too young for the Allowance, check here.


https://www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/overview

[Prudie]

Looking at the Gov links it looks like about 2 years for the heating and not until 2020 (age 65+ for a man) for a free bus pass.

[Buenchico]

Sorry. Assuming that he's in England then he's got a long wait for his bus pass.

In England, a woman becomes eligible for a bus pass when she reaches State Pension Age. To ensure equality, a man becomes eligible when a woman who was born on the same day as him reaches State Pension Age. That used to be 60 but is now gradually rising to 65 and then, along with that for men, to 66.

So, since a woman who shares a birth date with your friend won't qualify for her State Pension until around May 2020 (which is when your friend will also qualify for his State Pension).

If your friend is in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland he's already eligible for his bus pass but he has to apply for it (by contacting his local council); it's not automatic.

That information can be confirmed here:
https://www.gov.uk/calculate-state-pension/y

[Buenchico]

Oops!

Incomplete paragraph!
"So, since a woman who shares a birth date with your friend won't qualify for her State Pension until around May 2020 (which is when your friend will also qualify for his State Pension), that's when he will qualify for his bus pass"

[VHG]

Note you have to apply for them you don't get them automatically.

[Baldric]

I'm in Kent, I qualified for my Bus Pass in Nov 2012 when I was 61 and a bit, and first Fuel Allowance last year at 62, which I wasn't expecting.

[boxtops]

You were part of the sliding scale then, Baldric?

[Baldric]

Looks like it boxy.

[lilacben]

He will recieve the bus pass now or shortly. And heating allowence in November. and Christmas bonus of £10 in December.

[Prudie]

Sorry that's not true lilacben, the statutory age has changed and is much higher, as in several answers above.

[boxtops]

I don't think so, lilacben - it's a sliding scale now - see answers above. ^

[lilacben]

Oops looks like they have changed it in the last four years.!

[Peter Pedant]

and it depends on what if any benefits he is receiving.

One of my neighbours - poorly controlled schizophrenic - has one at age 31.

If you are on DLA or its successor you get one with the deal but have to apply. My brother got one at 60 seven y ago - and I would be getting one when I was 62 1/2 I think, as I too am chasing the sliding scale.

I was informed I was eligible for a heating allowance for this Christmas by letter but would have to apply - yippee at 62 and 11/12ths. So I dialled the number with my arthritic trembling fingers and was told - I wish they would put this on the letter - those in receipt of certain benefits a re already on the list....

so no wonder you have a zillion answers

[Denisdiamond]

You're right Peter. Will look up the websites which have been posted. thanks to everyone for their help.

[EDDIE51]

If your friend qualifies for Pension Credit, which he can get if he is not working or on a low income, he will get the heating allowance now.
Pension credit can be claimed when a woman born on the same day as you qualifies for state pension. This can be up to 5 years earlier than the age to qualify for state pension. I do not qualify for state pension until January 2016 but I started getting pension credit and the winter fuel payment last year, I can get a bus pass as well if I bother to apply for it.
Pension credit also give you full housing / council tax benefit automatically hospital travel cost refunded, free prescriptions and dental treatment.
Pension Credit is the most under claimed of all benefits ,it is estimated 1 in 3 of all those who are qualified for it do not claim it. You are also allowed to have £10,000 savings before they start to reduce your payment, you can still qualify for some pension credit even if you have savings of £60,000 or more.
I answered a question a few weeks ago for a man who had a private pension of £40 a week and £60,000 savings , he was still entitled to £28 a week pension credit. If you qualify for even £1 a week pension credit you still get all the other allowances free , housing/council tax winter fuel and the rest.

[Dodger666]

According to the list for bus pass eligibility here in the West Midlands, and assuming it's standard throughout the country, if your friend was born between 6 July 1954 to 5 August 1954 then he will get his bus pass on 6 May 2020.