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Winter fuel payments to benefit nine million people after major u-turn by Labour
The Scottish Parliament will receive a funding boost after the re-think by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
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Nine million pensioners will benefit from winter fuel payments this year after a major u-turn by the Labour Government.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves lifted the qualifying threshold so that everyone of state pension stage on Ā£35,000 or below will enjoy extra cash to heat their homes.
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The policy does not apply to Scotland but will result in extra funding for Holyrood.
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Reevesā decision last year to slash a payment of up to Ā£300 affected around ten million pensioners and triggered a huge political backlash.
Labourās drubbing at the recent local elections is said to have been largely caused by the policy decision.
The Chancellor's initial decision linked winter fuel payments to pension credit, but she ditched this approach today and made the scheme more generous.
Article continues belowREAD MORE:Scottish Labour 'naive' to expect widespread gains at 2026 Holyrood election after Hamilton victoryREAD MORE:Reform UK seizing control of councils sees rise in trade union membershipEnsuring everyone over the State Pension age in England and Wales on Ā£35,000 a year or less will benefit means over three quarters of pensioners are affected.
Pensioners above this threshold can opt out or they will have the payment automatically recovered.
According to the UK Government, the new system will cost around Ā£1.25bn in England and Wales while the means-test could save around Ā£450m.
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The payment of Ā£200 per household, or Ā£300 per household where there is someone over 80, will be made this winter.
Under the devolved Scottish scheme, which will also come into force this year, every pensioner will receive at least Ā£100, with the poorest getting Ā£200 or Ā£300.
Holyrood could received extra funding of over Ā£100m as a result of the Reeves u-turn.
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The Chancellor said: āTargeting Winter Fuel Payments was a tough decision, but the right decision because of the inheritance we had been left by the previous government. It is also right that we continue to means-test this payment so that it is targeted and fair, rather than restoring eligibility to everyone including the wealthiest.
āBut we have now acted to expand the eligibility of the Winter Fuel Payment so no pensioner on a lower income will miss out. This will mean over three quarters of pensioners receiving the payment in England and Wales later this winter.ā
The Government estimates that around two million people in England and Wales over State Pension age have a taxable income above Ā£35,000.
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