Turning Up The Heat On The Winter Fuel Payment

As the months grow colder, this dramatic shift will significantly affect millions of older people who may have previously relied on this extra support to keep their home warm and safe for the winter.

The Winter Fuel Payment is a tax free annual payment designed to support older people cover heating costs during the winter period. For 2024/25, households with someone born before September 23rd 1958, are eligible. Depending on an individual's circumstances, payments can be as much as £300, which could be a lifeline for an older person, providing an essential financial boost as we face high heating bills during winter.

Last year, Age UK Plymouth conducted its Warm Homes initiative. This service is dedicated to ensuring older people in Plymouth stay warm, safe and financially secure throughout winter. During the 2023/24 service, we supported 80 clients, where 100% were at risk of fuel poverty.

Thanks to our exceptional Information & Advice team, out of all households supported, £1,478 was saved altogether, averaging a saving of £25 per household. Small savings like this make a huge difference in keeping a household warm, without having to sacrifice daily essentials like groceries and medicine.

Age UK National warns that the changes to the Winter Fuel Payment could seriously impact as many as 2 million pensioners, where it may already be a struggle to pay their energy bills. These new regulations come at a time when energy prices are continuously rising, and more people than ever are becoming pushed into fuel poverty.

On top of this, to qualify, applicants will now have to navigate through a new process filling out a 22 page form along with 243 questions to fill out to obtain Pension Credit, which is needed to then go on to receive the Winter Fuel Payment.

For some older people, completing this form is more than just paperwork, it has the potential to be a significant barrier in securing vital financial aid this winter. Poor eyesight, arthritis and other health conditions can make writing and even reading this form difficult. Not to mention those who are not comfortable using the internet or technology might lack a support network to assist them.

The decision to limit access to the Winter Fuel Payment means that many older people, who may not qualify for Pension Credit, but are still struggling to pay their bills are losing a lifeline where they can keep their homes warm without having to compromise for other essentials.

How can I help?

Age UK has created a petition, directly asking the Government to halt their proposed changes. You can sign this petition yourself by clicking the button below, where we are only a few thousand signatures from reaching our target!