UK Government Confirms Partial Winter Fuel Payment Return This Year

The UK government, led by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, has confirmed that changes will be made to winter fuel payments to increase eligibility for pensioners this coming winter, reversing some of the cuts made when the payment was means-tested last year. However, the payments will not be fully reinstated as a universal benefit; instead, more pensioners will be eligible under an expanded means test, but the government will continue to exclude wealthier pensioners from receiving the allowance. This partial U-turn comes after pressure from the public and political opposition, including Reform UK, which campaigned for restoring the universal payment. Reeves emphasized that the government has put public finances on a firmer footing, allowing for increased support, although details on the extent of eligibility and funding will be announced later. Pensions Minister Torsten Bell confirmed there is no plan to return to universal payments, arguing that most people agree it is inappropriate to pay large sums to wealthy individuals, but more pensioners will nonetheless benefit under the revised criteria. The government aims to implement these changes in time for the winter, with announcements potentially preceding the Autumn budget.