DWP warning as 880,000 pensioners 'could miss out' on Winter Fuel Payment

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued a warning to those who are eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment this year, as it said that hundreds of thousands of people could miss out on the support payment

An alert has been raised as up to 880,000 individuals eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment might miss out this year. The alarm was sounded during a parliamentary debate earlier this week over the Labour Government's contentious decision to alter the eligibility criteria for the £300 support payment.

In contrast to last year when all pensioners above the state pension age could receive the payment, this year it is necessary for pensioners to be claiming certain benefits to qualify for the support, which ranges from £200 to £300. The Government has been actively encouraging people to apply for Pension Credit, highlighting that hundreds of thousands who are eligible have not claimed it.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall reiterated this call in parliament on Monday. Liberal Democrat work and pensions spokesperson Steve Darling labelled the policy "regressive" and said it would "add insult to injury" for pensioners. Addressing the Commons, he said: "There are 2.7 million pensioners who are over the age of 80 and would be benefiting from the £300 winter fuel allowance."

He continued, "These are among the most vulnerable in our society, and you are quite right how the previous Government let them down, but let us not add insult to injury and have the new Government let them down. Can you reassure us that you will reverse from this regressive approach that you have taken with the winter fuel allowance and not hit the most vulnerable who are over 80? ", reports the Mirror.

However, Liz Kendall countered that the Government was taking all necessary steps to ensure the 880,000 people eligible for Pension Credit, and subsequently the Winter Fuel Payment, do not miss out. She stated: "(Mr Darling) will know that this was not a decision that we wanted or expected to make. The reason we have done it is that we have to deal with the £22billion blackhole in the public finances left by members opposite, but in doing so we will, as a progressive party, always prioritise the very poorest pensioners and that is why we are so determined to end a situation where up to 880,000 miss out on winter fuel because they are not getting pension credit, and we are determined to put that right."

During the session, Mel Stride, former work and pensions minister and now shadow minister for the Conservative opposition, claimed that Labour had not planned to means-test Winter Fuel Allowance during their election campaign and had opposed it while in opposition. He said: "Indeed, in 2017, her own party produced an analysis suggesting that around 4,000 pensioners would die prematurely were this policy to be brought into effect. Does (Ms Kendall) standby that figure of around 4,000, if not, how many premature deaths does she believe will occur as a result of this policy? " Liz responded by pointing out that the Tories had also considered means-testing the benefit in 2017.

Despite not implementing this, she argued that they still pushed hundreds of thousands of pensioners into poverty, a claim disputed by Mr Stride. She stated: "So I would just say to (Mr Stride) until party members opposite know that they have to apologise to the British people for the 200,000 extra pensioners in poverty over the last 14 years, and for a £22billion black hole in the public finances, which we are now putting right, which has put the public finances at risk, they will remain on those seats and we will remain on these."