The UK government has clarified its position on the key question of special payments to pensioners, confirming they will not be issued this year. Pensioner cost payments to around eight million low-income households have been stopped over the past few years to offset the impact of the cost-of-living crisis.
These payments were previously made with winter fuel payments to all state pensioners, resulting in total payments of between £350 and £600. However, pensioner cost of living payments have now stopped and many pensioners will also lose winter fuel payments this year due to the introduction of means testing.
Millions of pensioners will be worse off this year as a result – especially as energy bills rise in early October. The government said: “If you were born before September 23, 1958, you could get £200 or £300 to help pay your heating bills for the winter of 2024 to 2025. This is known as the winter fuel payment.
“You may be eligible if you or your partner receive certain benefits. You will not receive the Additional Pensioner Costs Living Payment provided in 2022 and 2023. It stopped in the winter of 2023.
Prime Minister Keir Starr has faced significant criticism following his decision to scrap winter fuel payments for all but the poorest pensioners, reports BirminghamLive. Charities have expressed concern that around 2.5 million older people who do not qualify will struggle financially. Eliminating these additional costs of life support is expected to increase these challenges.
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