Tens of thousands of pensioners in the UK may not receive their Winter Fuel Payments before Christmas due to a backlog of claims for Pension Credit. As applications surged following a government announcement, the Department for Work and Pensions reported nearly 91,075 unprocessed claims as of mid-November. With average processing times increasing to 65 working days, many eligible individuals will have to manage without this vital financial support during the holiday season. The government is taking steps to address the backlog but uncertainties remain regarding timely payments.