Labour Restores Winter Fuel Payments to 9 Million Pensioners Under £35,000 Income

The Labour government has reversed its previous decision to restrict winter fuel payments only to pensioners receiving pension credit or other benefits, now extending the payment to all pensioners in England and Wales with an income of £35,000 or below. This U-turn, announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, restores payments worth up to £300 to about nine million pensioners, aiming to provide relief during the winter amid rising energy costs. The change has been welcomed by pensioners and some younger people who previously opposed the cuts, while polling shows mixed support across age groups for means testing such benefits. Labour MPs have broadly supported the reinstatement but are using the momentum to call for reversals of other planned benefit cuts, including those affecting disability payments and the two-child benefit cap. Critics argue that while the reinstatement is positive, the government must also address wider welfare austerity measures and avoid further harmful cuts. The government defended the policy shift as financially manageable and necessary after restoring economic stability, though some warn it may lead to increased taxes or cuts elsewhere.