Should Rachel Reeves restore the Winter Fuel payments immediately? Vote here

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has revised Winter Fuel Payment eligibility, limiting it to pensioners who qualify for means-tested benefits like Pension Credit.

The move seeks to address budgetary pressures but faces huge criticism for potentially excluding low-income pensioners who don’t claim such benefits.

As part of her October Budget, Rachel Reeves announced that the £300 winter fuel payment will now only be available to the poorest pensioners. To offset the impact, the government launched a campaign urging eligible individuals to apply for Pension Credit.

However, government projections indicate that an additional 50,000 pensioners will face relative poverty by 2025 due to this change, increasing to 100,000 by 2030 when factoring in housing costs.

Ms Reeves emphasised her commitment to protecting the most vulnerable, stating, “I am determined to ensure that the poorest pensioners are protected and will still get winter fuel payments, and indeed, to ensure that pension incomes continue to increase with the triple lock.”

The Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer also defended the decision to alter winter fuel payments, stating that while it “makes sense,” some Budget choices were made reluctantly.

Speaking during a series of BBC local radio interviews, he acknowledged the challenges posed by the changes and responded to questions from various presenters about their potential impact on vulnerable populations.

However, critics warn the policy could exacerbate fuel poverty amid rising energy costs, leaving vulnerable individuals struggling to heat their homes this winter.

You can have your say on whether it was the right decision or not – and if the Chancellor should restore the grant – in our poll below.