Elderly people are more vulnerable to changes in temperature and the payment is designed to make sure they have enough money to heat their homes over winter (Picture: Getty)
The new Labour government plans to save £1.4 billion this year by restricting winter fuel payments to only the poorest pensioners.
It has been a controversial decision, with some saying elderly people will be forced to choose between food or fuel when a 10% rise in the energy price cap comes into effect this winter.
The first Prime Minister’s Questions after the summer recess saw Rishi Sunak and Ed Davey both clash with Starmer on the issue and what the proposed changes will mean for pensioners.
Money expert Martin Lewis has also launched a plea for the government to rethink their plans.
But what are winter fuel payments, and who is eligible to claim them?
Here is the background on the benefit currently dominating headlines.
What are winter fuel payments?
Since they were introduced by Labour in 1997, one-off fuel payments have been made to pensioners each winter to help them cover the cost of heating their homes.
Until this year, the payments were a universal benefit for all pensioners, meaning everyone was paid automatically no matter how much their income was.
The current payment is £200 for those aged between 66 and 79, and £300 for those over 80.
But the new Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced last month that the benefit will be means tested — so only the poorest will receive it.
She acknowledged it was a “difficult choice” but it was due to the “difficult circumstances because of the previous government and what they did”.
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What did Sir Keir Starmer say about winter fuel payments at PMQs?
The Conservatives and the Lib Dems both questioned Sir Keir Starmer on the government’s decision to axe winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners.
Rishi Sunak criticised the PM on taking winter fuel payments away from pensioners not on pension credits while approving public sector pay rises.
He said leadership was about choices and asked the PM why ‘has he chosen train drivers over pensioners?’
Meanwhile, Ed Davey asked about an elderly carer who will lose the winter fuel allowance.
Starmer says the government has been forced to take difficult decisions because of the legacy it was left and clear up the “mess” left by the Conservatives addressing a “£22bn black hole”.
Instead, he said his government will encourage more pensioners to claim pension credit and aligning it with housing benefit.
What has Martin Lewis said about winter fuel payment change?
Martin Lewis warned that eligibility criteria should widen (Picture: HGL/GC Images)
Money-saving expert Martin Lewis is one of the loudest voices calling for a rethink.
He revealed that he will be meeting Chancellor Rachel Reeves next week to look again at her “dangerous” plan to restrict winter fuel payments for pensioners.
He said that while he understands the …read more
Source:: Metro
