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Winter Fuel payments to extend to pensioners on incomes of £35,000 or less

ENGLAND AND WALES, JUN 9 – Nine million pensioners in England and Wales with incomes up to £35,000 will receive payments up to £300, helping cover fuel costs after cuts left 10 million without support last winter.

  • On June 11, 2025, the UK Government confirmed that approximately nine million pensioners residing in England and Wales, who are over 66 years old and have an income of £35,000 or less, will be granted the Winter Fuel Payment for the upcoming winter season.
  • This partial U-turn follows last year's means-testing that restricted payments only to those on pension credit, reducing recipients from over 11 million to about 1.5 million and provoking criticism from Labour MPs ahead of May's local elections.
  • The expanded eligibility maintains means-testing by automatically reclaiming payments from pensioners with incomes above £35,000 via the tax system, while payments will be £200 per household or £300 if someone is over 80, paid without requiring action from pensioners.
  • Chancellor Rachel Reeves acknowledged that limiting winter fuel payments was a difficult choice, but necessary due to the financial situation inherited from the prior administration, emphasizing the importance of keeping the payments means-tested to ensure they remain focused and equitable.
  • The U-turn will cost £1.25 billion, creating a fiscal gap the Chancellor must address possibly through higher taxes, spending cuts, or growth, while Downing Street aims to satisfy Labour MPs and address voter concerns about the cost-of-living crisis.
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The Telegraph broke the news in London, United Kingdom on Monday, June 9, 2025.
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