Tue, 20 May 2025

Tue, 20 May 2025 Ministers consider easing winter fuel payment cuts

Options under discussion include changing eligibility, or restoring the payments to all pensioners.

* The UK government is discussing reversing a decision to cut winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners.
* Over 9 million pensioners lost out on payments worth up to £300 after Chancellor Rachel Reeves restricted eligibility last year.
* Discussions within the government include changing the threshold at which pensioners stop receiving the benefit or restoring payments to all pensioners.
* The talks are fluid and no decision has been reached yet, with an announcement possible as soon as June 11 during the spending review.
* Some Labour MPs blame the winter fuel policy for the party's losses in local elections.
* Changing the policy entirely is seen as a less likely outcome than adjusting the thresholds.
* Chancellor Reeves said she would continue to listen to concerns about the policy and that "we are a government that listens".
* The Liberal Democrats criticized the potential U-turn, saying it was taking too long.
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