DWP issues update over reinstating £300 Winter Fuel Payments in England

The Department for Work and Pensions has broken its silence over calls to reinstate the Winter Fuel Payment. The Labour Party government and DWP said it has "no plans" to amend the qualifying criteria for the payment, which began being issued this week.

The DWP said: "Given the substantial fiscal pressures this year and next, the Government has had to make difficult decisions to bring the public finances under control. This includes the decision to means-test the Winter Fuel Payment, so it is better targeted to low-income pensioners who need it."

A petition claimed: "We want the Government to restore the Winter Fuel Payment to how it was paid last winter immediately. We are concerned that pensioners could die if MPs do not act, and that the NHS could be under more pressure.

READ MORE State pensioners to get free £150 handout on TOP of Winter Fuel Payment

"It has been reported that Labour party analysis published in 2017 said plans to cut the fuel allowance for ten million pensioners could increase excess deaths by almost 4,000 that winter." Petition creator Michael Brian Anderson argues that the eligibility rule change to Winter Fuel Payments could put the NHS under “more pressure” and grimly warns that “pensioners could die if MPs do not act”.

At 10,000 signatures the UK Government will respond to the petition and at 100,000, it would be considered by the Pensions Committee for debate in Parliament. It comes after the Court of Session gave a couple from Coatbridge the green light for their case against the Scottish Government and the UK Work and Pensions Secretary to go ahead, with a procedural hearing set for next month ahead of a full “substantive” hearing in January.

The case’s argument rests on the accusation that both governments failed to adequately consult with those of State Pension age on the change and did not release an equality impact assessment on the changes.