How many pages will the form to claim winter fuel payments be?

Will the cost of administering the means testing be greater than the cost of paying the WFP? That's without the cost to the NHS and Social Services when people become ill because they are afraid of turning the heating on.

This will be a real problem.
I'm an OAP and I'm hardly rich but I doubt I will get it now. That won't cause me any real hardship tbh but there are going to be people who won't/can't fill in the form who will not get it who will suffer.

they've taken away coal fires, it being a polluter, gave all the houses central heating.

people could always throw chair legs on the fire. Now they have more wool jumpers.

better get it filled in during the summer whilst there is enough light

keep a copy so you can fill in next years form

I had an aunt who couldn't read or write, she relied on my mother to sort forms out - how do you fill in a form if you don't know how to?

It is being suggested that it will only go to OAPs who get Pension Credit. That would be easier/cheaper than doing a new assessment. The problem is that at least a 3rd of those eligible for that don't claim it,probably because the form for that apparently runs to 19 pages. So SOME poor pensioners will not be getting the heating allowance.

If it's a lot of pages or too difficult to complete the OAPs can always set it on fire to keep warm

Haven't heard of this yet!

Do they send out the forms automatically to those who were eligible before?

I had to set up Power Of Attorney, for myself, for the benefits of my family in case I went "La-La".

From memory, I think there were thirty eight pages, which was intimidating to say the least!
That with a pack of instructions which, to say the least, were difficult to comprehend!

Fortunately it was possible to do it on line, which became a simple process, as you are guided through the forms,
and skipping many pages that are irrelevant!

Therefore, if it's possible to do it the same way for "Winter Payments", it should be fairly simple for, at least, those with internet access!

Ok, I just checked, and I don't see an option for applying on line!

They do, however, say that if you had it previously, you should receive it automatically.
If you are applying for the first time you can do it by phone.