Over nine million pensioners lost out their winter fuel payment last year
The ‘reversal’ of the Winter Fuel payment cut announced today by the Government is only a revisit of the payment thresholds, not a return to the previous qualifications, say leading audit, tax and business advisory firm, Blick Rothenberg.
Stefanie Tremain, a Partner at the firm, said: “The Prime Minster, Keir Starmer’s comments on the winter fuel cut today are welcome, but calling it a ‘reversal’ is not accurate.”
She added: “Instead of a return to the previous system, the thresholds for getting the winter fuel payment will be revisited so that more pensioners will qualify rather than just those on certain benefits. According to the Government, the criteria for the payment was tightened up to save money, and reportedly saved the Treasury £1.4bn in 2024.”
Stefanie said: “However, as more pensioners rushed to claim pension credits and other allowances to ensure that they continued to qualify, the actual cost saving is unclear.”
She added: “Over nine million pensioners lost out on their winter fuel payment last year, many of whom arguably needed it. Currently, pensioners who qualify can get a single payment of £200 if they are under 80 or £300 if they are over 80, and this is paid in November or December.”
Stefanie said: “Hopefully any change to the thresholds will ensure that pensioners who currently struggle to pay their energy bills benefit. More importantly, any change must be introduced and enacted before the winter months. Especially as energy prices continue to rise due to inflation.”
She added: “However, how the Government are going to find the £1.3 billion that they had originally planned to save in 2024/25 and £1.5 billion in subsequent years remains to be answered if they do reverse the cuts.”
