Speaking at an event in Rochdale, Greater Manchester yesterday, Reeves told reporters that “more people will get Winter Fuel Payment this winter”, adding that further details will be announced “as soon as we possibly can”
Martin Lewis shares a “key message” after Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed yesterday that Winter Fuel Payments will be extended to more pensioners this winter.
Speaking at an event in Rochdale, Greater Manchester yesterday, Reeves told reporters that “more people will get Winter Fuel Payment this winter”, adding that further details will be announced “as soon as we possibly can”.
She said: “People should be in no doubt that the means test will increase and more people will get Winter Fuel Payment this winter.”
The Money Saving Expert (MSE) website founder took to social media after the news broke, and posted a video with his “instant” response.
He opened by saying he was “delighted” by the news, adding that the government was set to increase the level of means-test for the up to £300 winter support payment.
He then said it was worth “explaining” the two issues he had always had with the way that the Winter Fuel Payment means-test had been put in place.
He explained: “The first one is the level. Currently, for a single pensioner, only those earning under £11,800 a year get the £200 or £300 winter fuel help. Now with energy bills still high and other energy bill help being taken away, that really was a big hit to the pensioners who were just above that limit.
“I’m hoping to see this limit increase from the current £11,800 up to £20,000 or more. Perhaps they might only do it and link it to higher-rate taxpayers.
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Martin then said the other question – which was one of the “main reasons” he wanted to publish a video response – was about the “method of means-testing.”
He added: “The means test that they linked Winter Fuel payment to was Pension Credit. Now, Pension Credit has long been a flawed benefit which has been critically underclaimed, and even now, after all the communication over Winter Fuel, there are still 700,000 eligible pensioners who should get Pension Credit and thus winter fuel payments who don’t because they don’t claim.
“Often, it will be vulnerable people with onset dementia or people who just can’t go through the complicated process, especially on forms, or the message hasn’t been passed on to them as it’s quite difficult to explain the level of income that you need to get it.
“So let’s just put that into perspective, 700,000 people who have a total income of under £11,800 a year are missing out on the Winter Fuel Payment, even though that’s the level the government says they should get it.
“So my big message to the Chancellor is, don’t just increase the threshold. You have to look at the means test mechanism to make sure that the most vulnerable pensioners in this country, if they have income below your threshold, actually get the Winter Fuel Payment. And my fingers are crossed they’ll be listening.”
Last year, the Labour government means-tested the Winter Fuel Payment. This meant that only certain pensioners over the age of 66 would receive the money, rather than all pensioners.
The move saw over nine million pensioners in the UK lose the extra cash last winter. Labour faced severe backlash at the time, which has continued to follow them.
Legal challenges have been raised against the government for the move, with charities warning that it would push more older Brits into poverty. The axing of the benefit was also linked to the rise in Reform Councillors in the recent elections.
The Chancellor said public finances are in a stronger position than they were last July – meaning thresholds can be raised. Reeves added that ministers had listened to concerns about the controversial decision.
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