Winter Fuel Payments

Thank you for taking the time to write to me about the very difficult decision our government has had to take to ensure winter fuel payments are targeted to the very poorest pensioners who are on Pension Credit.  

I want to make it clear that this was not a decision that any Labour Government wanted to take. It was necessary because of the actions of the previous government. The Tory Government made a series of unfunded spending in-year commitments and left a £22bn black hole in the country’s finances which requires immediate and urgent action before April 2025.  

I also want to make clear that this Labour Government is and always will be committed to protecting the most vulnerable. The triple lock saw the new state pension rise by over £900 this year, and a further rise of £362.65 (4.1%) a year was announced just this week. Because of our commitment to the triple lock, pensions are projected to increase by over £1,000 in the next five years. These benefits go to all pensioners and are not means tested.  

Also, it is important to note that under the last Tory Government, over 800,000 eligible pensioners did not get the benefits they were entitled to. The Labour Government is working to increase the uptake and process these claims as quickly and smoothly as possible. We are determined to make a difference and ensure thousands of pensioners claim Pension Credit which will unlock winter fuel payments and other benefits. I encourage you, your friends, family and neighbours to check if you or they are eligible by visiting the following link: www.gov.uk/pension-credit/eligibility or by calling the Pension Credit claim line at 0800 99 1234.  

Working together, the Labour governments in Westminster and in Wales are absolutely determined to do everything possible to protect the poorest in society. The Welsh Labour Government already funds the Fuel Bank Foundation to deliver a national Fuel Voucher and Heat Fund scheme in Wales, and the Discretionary Assistance Fund is available to support households who are struggling to pay their daily costs, including gas and electricity costs. Furthermore, the Warm Homes Nest scheme – in which the Welsh Government is investing more than £30 million this year – aims to reduce fuel poverty in low-income households, including those on state pensions. 

If no action is taken to repair the Conservatives’ black hole, the UK’s financial stability would be at risk, possibly leading to higher prices, mortgages and rents. As the Chancellor explained, this was not a decision that she wanted to or expected to make, but by taking the tough decisions now to protect the public finances we can begin the process of change. By providing economic stability, we can begin to attract the investment and growth our country desperately needs, and has been lacking for so long, to fund our public services and bring more opportunities for working people and pensioners.  

I can assure you that we are ensuring that those with the broadest shoulders should bear the heavier burden in tackling the £22bn black hole. That includes cracking down on non-doms, tackling tax avoidance, ending the tax break on private schools, strengthening the powers of the water regulator, and backing tough fines on water companies.  

This Labour Government will always be open and transparent about the state of our public finances and the tough choices we have to take to protect our economic stability. This includes the difficult decision on Winter Fuel Payments. But we also know that it is pensioners with fixed incomes who would suffer if we took reckless decisions like the Conservatives did under Liz Truss. That’s why we will continue to take the necessary and sometimes difficult decisions to protect the most vulnerable through our plan to fix the foundations of our country.