Winter fuel payment

2024 - 7 - 29

Winter is Coming, and So Are Budget Cuts!

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Chancellor Rachel Reeves announces winter fuel payment cuts, leaving many out in the cold. What does this mean for pensioners?

With a chill in the air and winter looming, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has set off a storm among pensioners by announcing a cut to the universal Winter Fuel Payments. This assistance, typically handed out to all individuals born before September 25th, 1957, ranging from £250 to £600 to help with heating bills, will now only be given to those on benefits or Pension Credit. Talk about a real-life game of musical chairs—only now, fewer people will have a seat!

The announcement comes as a strategic move to address a staggering £22 billion black hole in the public finances, left over by the previous Conservative government. Reeves’ budget proposals, set to be unveiled on October 30, are also hinting at tax rises and cuts to spending across the board—essentially asking us to bundle up as the heat, quite literally, will not be on for everyone this winter. For over a million pensioners, this could mean a chilly winter season ahead as they scramble to figure out how to manage their bills without the vital support they have come to rely on.

Predictably, reactions to the news haven’t been warm and fuzzy. Advocacy groups have labelled the cuts ‘disastrous’ and warned they may jeopardise the health and well-being of many older citizens. Age UK stated that the withdrawal of universal winter fuel payments could lead to adverse outcomes, prompting the Older People’s Commissioner to urge the government to reconsider their plans. After all, who wouldn't want to cosy up with a hot cup of tea without worrying about the rising thermostat?

With winter around the corner, many pensioners might find themselves huddled in blankets instead of enjoying the comfort of a warm home. It’s not just a battle against the cold—it’s also a fiscal nightmare that could lead to increased health risks for vulnerable individuals. Interestingly, did you know that a whopping 17% of people over 65 reported experiencing fuel poverty in the UK? It seems that while the temperatures drop, these changes could heat up debates around financial support for our elderly, just in time for winter's arrival!

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Image courtesy of "MoneySavingExpert"

<p><b>Martin Lewis:</b> The Chancellor is restricting Winter Fuel ... (MoneySavingExpert)

Winter Fuel Payments are to be restricted to those on benefits and Pension Credit, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced. But MoneySavingExpert.com founder ...

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Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

Winter fuel payments to be restricted as Reeves says there is £22bn ... (The Guardian)

Chancellor suggests budget, on 30 October, will involve tax rises and cuts to spending and benefits.

Winter fuel payment to be scrapped for those not on pension credit ... (Money Marketing)

New chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced surprise plans to scrap the winter fuel payment for those not in receipt of pension credit in a bid to save ...

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Image courtesy of "Energy Live News - Energy Made Easy"

Chancellor ends universal winter fuel payments - Energy Live News (Energy Live News - Energy Made Easy)

Individuals born before 25th September 1957, could receive between £250 and £600 to help pay heating bills. This assistance, known as a “Winter Fuel Payment,” ...

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Image courtesy of "The Independent"

Winter fuel payments scrapped for people not on benefits or pension ... (The Independent)

The chancellor on Monday announced a series of spending cuts to address a black hole in the public finances left by the previous Conservative government.

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Image courtesy of "This is Money"

What Winter Fuel Payment changes mean for you: Rachel Reeves ... (This is Money)

Reeves is cutting the number of pensioners eligible for the payments from this winter by over a million - unless more act to claim benefits they are already ...

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Image courtesy of "Big Issue"

Winter fuel payments restricted to pensioners on certain benefits (Big Issue)

The chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced that the winter fuel payment will no longer be paid to all pensioners of a certain age.

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Image courtesy of "Nation.Cymru"

Older People's Commissioner urges rethink on Winter Fuel Payment ... (Nation.Cymru)

However, from this winter pensioners will only receive a payment if they are receiving pension credit. Thousands of older people in Wales will no longer be ...

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Image courtesy of "Utility Week"

'Disastrous' cuts to winter fuel payments 'jeopardise' pensioners' health (Utility Week)

The government's decision to axe universal winter fuel payments (WFP) will lead to a “disastrous outcome”, Age UK has warned. In a statement to Parliament ...

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Image courtesy of "The Pembrokeshire Herald"

Age Cymru's response on means testing the winter fuel payment (The Pembrokeshire Herald)

WITH the Chancellor's announcement of means testing the Winter fuel payment, Age Cymru says it is extremely concerned about the impact that this will have ...

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Image courtesy of "Evening Standard"

Rachel Reeves axes winter fuel payments for many pensioners and ... (Evening Standard)

She also announced that the Budget would be on October 30 and would involve “difficult decisions” on tax, spending and welfare.

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Image courtesy of "BBC News"

Winter fuel payments scrapped for those not on benefits, says ... (BBC News)

The chancellor also cuts several transport projects, saying Labour inherited a projected overspend of £22bn.

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Image courtesy of "The Independent"

Winter fuel payment latest: Rachel Reeves warns more difficult ... (The Independent)

Rachel Reeves speech live: Chancellor warns more difficult choices to come after axing winter fuel payment to plug '£22bn black hole'

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Image courtesy of "Energy Live News - Energy Made Easy"

Chancellor defends winter fuel payment cuts amid £22bn deficit ... (Energy Live News - Energy Made Easy)

Chancellor Rachel Reeves explained that, due to a £22 billion deficit, it was necessary to stop winter fuel payments for pensioners not receiving pension ...

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Image courtesy of "Scottish Daily Record"

Martin Lewis urges UK Government to use Council Tax bands for ... (Scottish Daily Record)

The consumer champion warns the Winter Fuel Payment rule change will put 'too big a squeeze' on pensioner households.

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Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

UK pensioners: how will you be affected by proposed winter fuel ... (The Guardian)

We would like to hear from people who may no longer receive winter fuel payments due to planned changes.

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Image courtesy of "Mirror.co.uk"

Winter Fuel Payment eligibility criteria explained after means-testing ... (Mirror.co.uk)

Winter Fuel Payments were normally available to everyone who is above state pension age in the UK - but this is changing so that only those on means-tested ...

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Image courtesy of "Corporate Adviser"

Abolishing universal winter fuel payment equivalent to 3pc cut to ... (Corporate Adviser)

Axing the winter fuel payment for pensioners is equivalent to reducing the state pension by 3 per cent according to Baroness Ros Altmann.

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Image courtesy of "Sky News"

Winter fuel payment changes - are you still eligible? (Sky News)

This year about 1.5 million pensioners will be eligible for the winter fuel payment - down from 11.4 million when the payment was universal.

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Image courtesy of "WalesOnline"

Martin Lewis slams DWP as winter fuel payment axed for millions (WalesOnline)

The money-saving expert released a formal statement addressing the chancellor on social media.

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Image courtesy of "BBC News"

Winter fuel payments scrapped for millions of pensioners (BBC News)

Rachel Reeves says there is a "black hole" in the public finances due to "unfunded" overspends by the previous government.

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Image courtesy of "The Independent"

Winter Fuel Payments: Labour changes explainer and other pension ... (The Independent)

Ms Reeves said: “I am making the difficult decision that those not in receipt of Pension Credit will no longer receive the Winter Fuel Payment from this year ...

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Image courtesy of "FT Adviser"

Scrapping of winter fuel allowance 'blow to struggling pensioners' (FT Adviser)

Vulnerable pensioners missing out on the winter fuel payment could be left in dire financial straits, experts have warned.

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Image courtesy of "Credit Connect"

Chancellor scraps winter fuel payment for most pensioners - Credit ... (Credit Connect)

Winter fuel payments will be scrapped for most pensioners in a move expected to save the Treasury £1.5 billion per year, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has.

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Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

What are winter fuel payments and who will lose and keep them? (The Guardian)

Rachel Reeves announced that the payments to pensioners will no longer be universal in England and Wales.

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