DWP Winter Fuel Payment won't be reinstated for one group despite U-turn

Daily Mirror

a day ago

Last week, Sir Keir Starmer signalled a potential U-turn on the controversial policy to scrap the universal Winter Fuel Payment
One group of pensioners will not have their Winter Fuel Payment reinstated this year if Labour pushes ahead with its U-turn a government minister has confirmed.
In an interview this week, a government minister confirmed that the Winter Fuel Payment would not be given to "millionaire" pensioners and would onyl go to those who "that need it the most".
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Last week, Sir Keir Starmer signalled a potential U-turn on the controversial policy to means-test the Winter Fuel Payment. During PMQ's, the Prime Minister told the Commons that the government wanted to ensure that more pensioners would be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment going forward.
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Keir Starmer said the decision on this, however, was "as part of a fiscal event" so any changes would only come after a Spending Review.
He told the Commons: "I recognise people are still feeling the pressure of the cost of living crisis including pensioners, and as the economy improves we want to make sure people feel those improvements as their lives go forward.
That is why we want to ensure as we go forward more pensioners are eligible for winter fuel payments. As you would expect we will only make sure we make decisions we can afford."
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The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) payment is worth £300 and is paid to pensioner households between October and March. The aim of the money is to help with the extra costs of heating the home over the winter months.
Speaking to Sky News on Thursday evening, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones was asked about Reform UK's commitments on fully reinstating the Winter Fuel Payment.
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He said: "All of those things cost money. It's right that we set out the detail and how we're going to pay for those in a proper and orderly way.'
"We're sticking to the principle that millionaires shouldn't be getting subsidy for their energy bills from the government, so Winter Fuel Payments will still be targeted to those that need it the most.'
It is believed that the Government is considering a rethink of the £11,500 cut-off for the allowance, which would allow more people to get the money.
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Last year, the Labour government means-tested the Winter Fuel Payment. This meant that only certain pensioners over the age of 66 would receive the money, rather than all pensioners. The move saw over nine million pensioners in the UK lose the extra cash last winter.
Labour faced severe backlash at the time, which has continued to follow them. Legal challenges have been raised against the government for the move, with charities warning that it would push more older Brits into poverty.
Research conducted by Unite Union found that over two-thirds of its retired members had to turn their heating down last winter, a third were taking fewer baths or showers, and 16% had to cut back on hot meals due to the increased costs of trying to stay warm. The axing of the benefit was also linked to the rise in Reform Councillors in the recent elections.