The information is in the following table.
Cash terms (£) Real terms using 2004-05 prices (£) 1997-98 (not in receipt of income-related benefit) 20 24 1997-98 (in receipt of income-related benefit) 50 59 1998-99 (not in receipt of income-related benefit) 20 23 1998-99 (in receipt of income-related benefit) 50 58 1999-2000 100 113 2000-01 200 223 2001-02 200 218 2002-03 200 212 2003-04 ( 60-79 age rate) 200 206 2003-04 (80 or over age rate) 300 308 2004-05 (60-79 age rate) 200 200 2004-05 (80 or over age rate) 300 300 2005-06 (60-79 age rate) 200 196 2005-06 (80 or over age rate) 300 294 2006-07 (60-79 age rate) 200 192 2006-07 (80 or over age rate) 300 287 Notes: 1. Figures for 1997-98 to 2005-06 obtained using GDP deflator series from ONS. 2. Figures for 2006-07 obtained using HM Treasury assumptions. 3. For the years 1997-98 and 1998-99 the winter fuel payment was 20 or 50 for people receiving a pensioner premium in the income-related benefits. 4. The extra £100 for people aged 80 or over was introduced in winter 2003-04.
Information relating to winter fuel payments for the winters of 1997-98 and 1998-99 is not available. The information from 1999-2000 is in the following table.
An age breakdown is only available from winter 2002-03. The higher rate winter fuel payment of up to an additional £100 to people aged 80 or over was introduced in winter 2003-04.
Age Number of lower rate payments made(£200/£100) Number of higher rate payments made (additional £100/£50) 1999-2000 60 or over 10,084,130 n/a 2000-01 60 or over 11,105,750 n/a 2001-02 60 or over 11,201,900 n/a 2002-03 60-79 9,062,370 n/a 80 or over 2,285,670 n/a 2003-04 60-79 9,132,830 0 80 or over 2,335,410 2,335,410 2004-05 60-79 9,087,940 0 80 or over 2,313,240 2,313,240 2005-06 60-79 9,188,340 0 80 or over 2,342,780 2,342,780 n/a = not applicable Source: Information Directorate 100 per cent. sample.
The vast majority of winter fuel payments are made automatically throughout the month of November. Additional payment runs are made in December, February, March and June for customers who make a successful claim for a winter fuel payment before the cut off date of 31 March.
Information on the proportion of payments made for the years 1997-98 to 2000-01 is not available. Information on the years from 2001-02 is in the following table.
Month of payment Proportion of payments made (per cent.) 2001-02 November 99.31 December 0 February 1.18 March 0.31 June 0.20 2002-03 November 99.20 December 0.28 February 0.29 March 0.18 June 0.05 2003-04 November 99.28 December 0.25 February 0.19 March 0.17 June 0.11 2004-05 November 99.46 December 0.15 February 0.15 March 0.12 June 0.12 2005-06 November 99.14 December 0.41 February 0.18 March 0.13 June 0.14 Notes: 1. Figures for this year’s payments are not yet available. 2. The December payment run was introduced in 2002-03. Source: Annual EDS payment statistics, as supplied to the winter fuel planning and Implementation Team.