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<p>Eligibility for Winter Fuel Payments is based on female State Pension age. The
latest estimates we have show that there are currently around 600,000 higher and additional
rate taxpayers in Great Britain in 2014/15 who are above the female State Pension
age and therefore qualify for Winter Fuel Payments<sup>1</sup>.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We
ask people who want to return their payment to do so by post so that it can be dealt
with securely under existing Departmental financial processes and recorded against
their Winter Fuel Payment account. We also ask for a covering letter indicating whether
or not they wish us to continue to issue payments in future years.</p><p> </p><p>Returned
payments should be sent to the address on the issuing letter or to the office that
pays the claimant’s benefit.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The latest estimates we have show
that treating Winter Fuel Payments as taxable income would bring in around £250 million
a year of additional revenue<sup>2</sup>.</p><p> </p><p>Notes:</p><p>1. This estimate
is based on the 2011/12 Survey of Personal Incomes using economic assumptions consistent
with the OBR’s November 2014 economic and fiscal outlook.</p><p>The estimate uses
ONS population projections at mid year 2012 adjusted for financial years.</p><p>The
estimate is rounded to the nearest 100,000.</p><p> </p><p>2. This estimate is based
on DWP modelling using HMRC taxpayer data from November 2012 and Winter Fuel Payment
caseload data from Winter 2013.</p><p>This takes into account revenue from Basic,
Higher and Additional rate taxpayers.</p><p>Winter Fuel Payment rates are assumed
to be £200 per year for recipients under 80 and £300 a year for recipients aged 80
and over.</p>
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