DWP issues pension credit update after winter fuel payment cut

The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed that tens of thousands of people have applied for pension credit following cuts to the winter fuel payment.

DWP figures released on Friday show the government received around 74,400 pension credit claims in the eight weeks since July 29, when Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced means testing for the winter fuel payment.

This is up from 29,500 claims in the eight weeks before the announcement. But in the seven days beginning on September 16, the department received 11,800 claims, down from 13,400 the week before.

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The vast majority (91.8%) of claims made in the week beginning September 16 were made online.

Labour announced they would scale back the number of people who would get the winter fuel payment - which worth up to £300 a year.

Now only claimants of certain benefits, including pension credit and universal credit will receive it.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has previously urged pensioners to check if they are eligible for pension credit. She said: "It’s easier than ever to check if you are eligible, including with our online calculator, and if your circumstances have changed since the last time you looked I urge you to check again.

“Thousands of pensioners are missing out on pension credit worth on average £3,900 per year. That needs to change.”

Alan Tate, of the Communication Workers Union (CWU), said the winter fuel payment cut had “overshadowed” the work of the new Labour Government.

He said: “The CWU has been inundated with emails and calls from our retired members worried about choosing between heating and eating.”

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer responded in a Channel 4 News interview after the motion: “I do understand how, you know, colleagues in the Labour movement feel about this.

“This is clearly a difficult decision but a motion at conference doesn’t dictate Government policy.”