Rachel Reeves has announced that winter fuel payments will only be paid to those on Pension Credit.nsion Credit

HattieTopperobviously I don’t know your circumstances but seems to me that new build properties do have better insulation and cost less to heat. Downsizing may be an option if pennies are very tight?

Not all Pensioners are well off. I can foresee some really cold people . Many depend on the allowance, glad I didn't vote for them

I don’t need this payment. However, I donate it to the local winter warmth fund but I doubt I’ll be making the equivalent payment out of my own pocket. Therefore the charity and its dependents will lose out. I’d like to think the government could help out these charities instead now. I doubt they will though. As has been remarked above, you can be poor but not poor enough to claim benefits.

This is not good news for me as an 87 years old widow I am just above the limit for pension credit and the heating allowance has been very welcome. I don’t know what I shall do in winter but will just have to see what happens. As has been said already…it hasn’t taken long has it ….

Sycamore123

I should be careful in speaking for everyone, many pensioners are just outside the Pension Credit limit who are far from ‘comfortably off’, I doubt they will be very happy!!

Well, pensioners are an easy target. Didn’t see any tax rises for the rich.
The advice of downsizing really doesn’t work if you are renting or cannot afford Estate Agent fees and all the costs involved in moving house!!!

That's a shame. I live only on the full State Pension and pay rent out of it so there's not much surplus. I have depended on the winter fuel payment to help get me through the cold months and always been extremely grateful for it.

It has always been the same with benefits.

People are just above the threshold, sometimes by a pound or two.

Harris27

And to think I voted for labour.

Bet you won't again.

There will be no reform, as scheduled for October 2025, on social care charges.

Labour really doesn’t like pensioners.

GrannyGravy13

Within three weeks of coming to power, some of the poorest in our society will be poorer and colder this winter, thanks Labour 👏👏👏

Those who are just above the limit to receive this will be the ones suffering. They could miss out by pennies.

How many times have we read on GN that our pensions are amongst the lowest in Europe?

It's all very well giving these allowances such as £10 Christmas bonus, TV licences, bus passes, Winter Fuel Allowances to pensioners but, as has been proved, they are not incorporated into the State Pension so can be taken away at any time leaving those who may be just above a certain income level struggling.

Aren't people jumping the gun?
Noyjing has happened yet, and some other benefits will mean no entitlement to the pay out.

That wasn’t in their manifesto was it!
What else will slip in.

I don't get any benefits so I guess it's going to happen to me. I can't downsize, I'm already in a tiny house. It just seems those of us already struggling have been hit, no mention of inheritance tax, capital gains tax, increased income tax for the wealthy. I thought I might be able to afford a cheap weekend away next year, the first break in 10 years, not going to happen now. There are people worse off than me but as of now I am feeling tired, old and defeated.

I don’t need this payment and have always donated it to a local warmth fund. However, I don’t think I will be doing that out of my own pocket in the future. I doubt I will be the only one so the charity and its dependents will lose out. As has been remarked above, not every poorer person is poor enough to claim benefits.

I don't understand what is happening but perhaps someone could explain?

What I did understand from reading threads on GN was that, when Labour is in power again, they will revive the building of infrastructure, that will be good for the economy, encourage spending as more people are in work and they will put right the dismal state of the UK after 14 years of Tory governments.

Instead, we are promised the opposite almost immediately.
Are Starmer and crew all Tories in disguise?

Oh dear, didn’t think the first post had gone through!

EkwaNimitee

Oh dear, didn’t think the first post had gone through!

I had a feeling of déjà vu!

Just had a look at Martin Lewis’s take on this to say he is underwhelmed is an understatement.

“Winter fuel payments will not go to anyone who is not in receipt of pension credits or any other means tested benefit.”

GrannyGravy13

Within three weeks of coming to power, some of the poorest in our society will be poorer and colder this winter, thanks Labour 👏👏👏

To be fair, it’s not the poorest, they will still receive it, it’s those sadly caught in that awful trap of having just a teeny bit over the allowable, both working and pensioners are caught in this trap

I have two concerns: the first, as has already been raised, is those on low incomes but not quite low enough for pension credit, who don’t appear to even be getting a transition period.

The second is that the more you remove relatively small amounts of benefits from the middle class, the easier it becomes for them not to support a social welfare system.

Sycamore123

I should be careful in speaking for everyone, many pensioners are just outside the Pension Credit limit who are far from ‘comfortably off’, I doubt they will be very happy!!

Exactly!
My Mum for one.Pensioners are at home most of the time in Winter and need to keep warm.I do wish that those on the forum with money wouldn’t assume that all pensioners don’t need this bit of help.

Frankly I’m very surprised that a Labour government would do this!

If this had been proposed and put into practice by the Conservatives all hell would have broken lose on GN, just saying…

I’m very sorry and sad for those who will lose this benefit. As I’m not 66 til December, I’ve never had it.

They are cancelling the Care Cap now it was £86, 000 the most you had to pay if you sold your house, now they will take the lot.

Labour showing their true colours now.

Expect it will be the Triple Lock next that will be cancelled. Aren't you glad you voted for them 😠