Here are Martin Lewis’ thoughts on the Winter Fuel Payment cuts, we are sharing as we believe it sheds some clarity on the issue (originally posted on his X (formerly Twitter)) account:
“Government must rethink Winter Fuel Payments or almost ALL pensioners will need to find £100s more than last winter.
While energy will cost less than during last winter’s crisis time, the reduction in rates only equates to a drop of roughly £100 over the six winter months for a household with typical usage. Yet specific pensioner energy support has dropped by far more…
Last year pensioner homes got up to £300 extra per household cost of living support – that’s gone, and its loss alone is far bigger than the saving made by slightly lower rates.
Piling on top of that is the governments new decision to means-test Winter Fuel Payments, that will leave all except usually those who claim Pension Credit missing out on a further £200 – £300.
While there’s a strong argument for ending the universality of Winter Fuel payments, eligibility is being squeezed to too narrow a group. Those just above the thresholds will be hardest hit. I’m due to meet the Chancellor in a couple of weeks, and will then be urging her to look at methods to widen eligibility – such as to homes in council tax bands A to D – an imperfect but workable proxy for lower household incomes.”
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