Winter fuel payments fell by 9.3 million before U-turn

The quantity of people that obtained winter gasoline funds plunged to 1.3 million following controversial cuts by the federal government, new figures have revealed.In earlier years, practically 11 million folks in England and Wales obtained the cost, which helps pensioners cowl winter vitality payments.However a Treasury determination to means-test the cost led to the a lot decrease variety of recipients final yr, new official figures from the Division for Work and Pensions (DWP) present.That coverage has now been scrapped, with a U-turn by the chancellor in June that means that the overwhelming majority of pensioners will once more get the cost – value as much as about £300 per family – this coming winter.The winter gasoline cost was beforehand paid to all pensioners to assist with vitality prices in the course of the coldest interval of the yr.However in July 2024, the federal government mentioned future funds in England and Wales would go solely to these on low incomes who obtained specified advantages akin to pension credit score. In Scotland, ministers deliberate to mitigate a few of these cuts.Chancellor Rachel Reeves mentioned the transfer was wanted owing to the state of the general public funds. The coverage’s influence on totally different areas of the nation is revealed within the newly-published figures.In areas with the next proportion of low-income pensioners, many nonetheless obtained the winter gasoline cost. Within the Tower Hamlets space of London, some 49% of pensioners nonetheless obtained the cost.Whereas in Hart, in Hampshire, and Wokingham, in Berkshire, solely 5% obtained it, in contrast with an England and Wales common of 13%.Following widespread anger and a backlash from some Labour MPs who blamed the coverage for his or her occasion’s poor displaying in native elections in Might, Reeves introduced a partial reversal.Pensioners with an annual revenue of £35,000 or much less will now be eligible for the cost, and can obtain a letter about it in October or November. It means greater than three-quarters of pensioners will obtain the assistance this winter. This coverage shall be matched by the Scottish authorities.The winter gasoline cost in England and Wales is value £200 for folks of state pension age as much as 79-years-old. Folks aged 80 or older obtain £300.In Scotland this coming winter, the cost shall be elevated in step with inflation, which charts rising costs, so shall be value both £203.40 or £305.10 per family.Vitality payments will rise by 2% in October, below vitality regulator Ofgem’s value cap, until a family is on a hard and fast deal.The most recent knowledge comes as pensioners have been additionally given a robust trace concerning the doubtless rise within the state pension subsequent April. A authorities spokesman mentioned 9 million pensioners would obtain the cost this winter, and ministers had additionally reaffirmed their dedication to the triple lock.”And due to our efforts to spice up pension credit score take up, over 57,000 additional pensioner households have been awarded the profit, value on common £4,300 a yr,” he mentioned.