How to find help with costs during the upcoming winter

ADVICE TO DEAL WITH LOSS OF WINTER FUEL PAYMENTS

- SOPHIE BUCHAN

FUEL poverty rates in England have remained roughly at 13% over the last five years.

The scrapping of Winter Fuel Payments, however, has heightened concerns among many about the approaching autumn and winter seasons. To assist consumers, heating specialist BOXT has outlined the changes to the payments and the additional support options available.

What are Winter Fuel Payments?

First introduced in 1997, Winter Fuel Payments were previously available to anyone in the UK who had reached pension age to help them with the cost of heating bills.

Paid annually every winter, the universal payments ranged between £100 and £300. However, in the winter of 2022/23, 11.4 million payments were made, with up to £600 available due to extra cost-of-living payments.

So what's changing?

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the payments will no longer be universal this winter in England and Wales, and only pensioners on means-tested benefits will qualify. This means households collecting Pension Credit with someone aged over 80 can claim £300, while households collecting Pension Credit will receive £200.

Ultimately, the changes mean an estimated 10 million people will no longer qualify for the payments. The change does not apply in Scotland or Northern Ireland, where Winter Fuel Payments are devolved, and they will make their own rules.

The Scottish government is introducing the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, with payments of up to £300 available for anyone over state pension age. The Northern Irish government has yet to confirm its plans for the coming winter.

Who is eligible this year?