To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what criteria are used by the Pensions Service to dispatch claim forms for winter fuel allowance to people who will be aged 60 by the end of the qualifying week. (156658)

Each year the Pension Service dispatch winter fuel claim forms to customers using the following criteria:

Customers whose 60th birthday falls between the day following the previous year’s winter fuel payment qualifying week, and the last day of the current year’s winter fuel payment qualifying week.

Customers within the stated birth range for whom we have an address of at least two lines and a postcode, title, surname and forename, gender, national insurance number and verification level.

Customers who request a claim form

Female customers who are identified as already being in receipt of state pension are automatically entitled to a winter fuel payment and do not need to claim.