More pensioners will get winter fuel payments this year, says Reeves

More people will get winter fuel payments this year, chancellor Rachel Reeves has confirmed.

Since last year, winter fuel payments have been limited to those receiving pension credit or other means-tested benefits.

But the changes have proved extremely controversial, and two weeks ago, the prime minister Sir Keir Starmer confirmed the government will look at the policy again.

The chancellor has now gone a step further, saying that more people will get support this coming winter.

“The economy is in a better shape,” Ms Reeves said.

“But we have also listened to the concerns that people had about the level of the means test, and so we will be making changes to that.”

The chancellor added that the government will announce details of the changes “as soon as we possibly can”.

Government rules out returning to universal payments

Although more people will be eligible for winter fuel payments this winter, the government has said it won’t reintroduce universal support.

“Most people, 95% of people, agree that it’s not a good idea that we have a system paying a few hundreds of pounds to millionaires,” said pensions minister Torsten Bell.

“So we’re not going to be continuing with that.”

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