Millions of people could soon benefit from £600 worth of energy bill support if eligible to apply.

People who receive a Winter Fuel Payment, or will be eligible to as of this year, will automatically receive an additional amount of between £150 and £300 as part of a 'Pensioner Cost of Living Payment'.

Those eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment often receive between £100 and £300, however will now be paid an extra sum on top of that.

Some households will need to apply for the payment, with postal applications opening on September 18 and those by telephone on October 4, according to The Sun.

So ahead of the vital support, here is everything you need to know about the cost of living payment.

Millions of people could soon benefit from £600 worth of energy bill support if eligible to apply (file photo)

Who is eligible?

This payment is separate from other benefits and uplifts, such as the £900 cost of living payment for those on Universal Credit.

To qualify for the payment, you must have been born on or before September 25, 1957.

You also must be due to live in the UK for one day between September 18 and 24 this year. This is referred to as the qualifying week.

However, if you will not be living in the country that week you may still be eligible if you both live in either Switzerland or a European Economic Area (EEA) country and you have a 'genuine and sufficient' link to the UK.

Examples of a genuine link can include having family members in the country or having lived or worked there.

You will not qualify for the payment if you have been in hospital for more than a year receiving free treatment.

If you live in Cyprus, France, Gibraltar, Greece, Malta, Portugal or Spain you will not be eligible for the payment due to average temperatures at that time of year being higher than the warmest part of the UK.

Do I need to apply?

If you are eligible for support, it will often happen automatically.

However, if you have never received a Winter Fuel Payment, you will need to apply if you don't receive benefits or a State Pension, or you live in Switzerland or an EEA country.

People who receive a Winter Fuel Payment, or will be eligible to as of this year, will automatically receive an additional amount of between £150 and £300 as part of a 'Pensioner Cost of Living Payment'

You will also need to apply if you only receive one of the following benefits: Adult Disability Payment from the Scottish Government, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, Child Benefit or Universal Credit.

If you have already received a Winter Fuel Payment before, you will only need to apply if you have either referred your State Pension or moved to Switzerland or an EEA country.

When will I be paid and how much?

The 'Pensioner Cost of Living Payment' will be paid along-with the Winter Fuel Payment on November 1.

You should be paid in November or December but if you have not received the payment by January 26, 2024, you should call the Winter Fuel Payment Centre on 0800 731 0160.

The Winter Fuel Payment amount varies depending on age, who you live with or if you claim any of the following benefits: Pension Credit, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Income Support.

Including the 'Pensioner Cost of Living Payment', the amounts paid will be as follows: