Winter Fuel Payment U-turn 'welcome' but Keir Starmer urged to reform Pension Credit: 'Needs to change!' (0.725531914893617)
<iframe frameborder="0" height="100%" scrolling="no" src="https://www.gbnews.com/res/scraper/embed/?video_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmm-v2.simplestream.com%2Fiframe%2Fplayer.php%3Fkey%3D3Li3Nt2Qs8Ct3Xq9Fi5Uy0Mb2Bj0Qs%26player%3DGB003%26uvid%3D52863774%26type%3Dvod%26viously_id%3DTQ5NGY7DqZ1" width="100%"></iframe><br/><p>Prime Minister Keir Starmer has signalled<a href="https://www.gbnews.com/money/winter-fuel-payments-reverse-keir-starmer"> potential changes to the controversial Winter Fuel Paymen</a>t policy after facing months of fierce backlash. </p><p>Last year, Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed the up to £300 in energy bill support would now be reserved for older households in receipt of Pension Credit despite previously being a universal benefit.</p><h3></h3><br/><p>It is understood that the Government is considering raising the current £11,500 income threshold that determines eligibility for the payments. </p><p>According to the i newspaper, discussions about modifying the approach have intensified in Downing Street this week amid growing concerns that voters will not forgive Labour for the cuts.</p><h3></h3><br/><img alt="Woman shocked at energy bill and Sir Keir Starmer" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="09b42a7c01a038bdb5577a041cdd5326" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="7f7a3" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gbnews.com/media-library/woman-shocked-at-energy-bill-and-sir-keir-starmer.jpg?id=51431188&width=980"/><h3></h3><br/><div class="embed-latest"></div><p>Speaking to reporters in Tirana, Starmer was asked three times whether he was considering changing the thresholds but did not rule it out. </p><p>Instead, he defended the original decision, saying: "Look, we took difficult decisions, but the right decisions, at the Budget, including the decision that we took on winter fuel.</p><p>"As a result of those decisions. I mean, they were taken specifically with the purpose of stabilising the economy. And I think we're seeing the evidence of that in the interest rate cuts <a href="https://www.gbnews.com/money/uk-economy-gdp-rise-first-months-2025">and the growth figures</a>."</p><p>Sources suggest Chancellor Rachel Reeves could announce changes next month in her spending review, which will take place on June 11.</p><p><strong><em>Do you have a money story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing <a href="mailto:[email protected]" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected].</a></em></strong></p><h3></h3><br/><img alt="Energy bills pensioner" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="95994f956c92976830d04b7bd7b74dec" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="09d73" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gbnews.com/media-library/energy-bills-pensioner.png?id=52309764&width=980"/><h3></h3><br/><p>Simon Francis, the coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, welcomed the potential policy shift but emphasised that "what matters now is the detail." </p><p>He shared: "Any u-turn is welcome, but what matters now is the detail, especially if Winter Fuel Payments are not restored to all pensioners. </p><p>"There are three tests we will apply to any announcement based on thresholds, tapers and wider targeting to see if ministers are getting the message.<br/></p><p>"We need to see the Pension Credit threshold raised significantly, a taper system introduced to stop people missing out on Winter Fuel Payments for being just £1 over the line, and wider targeting of this support, including for those on non-means tested disability benefits or Carer's Allowance."</p><h3></h3><br><div class="opinary-widget-embed" data-customer="gbnews" data-poll="how-likely-are-you-to-shift-energy-usage"></div> <script async="" src="//widgets.opinary.com/embed.js" type="text/javascript"></script><h3></h3><br/><div class="embed-dontmiss"></div><p>Francis also expressed concern about rumours that the Chancellor might "water down the Warm Homes Plan promised in the Labour manifesto and reduce the £13.2billion promised to it."</p><p>Money saving expert Martin Lewis has also weighed in on the potential changes, warning that more need to be addressed to tackle inequalites.</p><p><strong>LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:</strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://www.gbnews.com/money/hmrc-pensions-tax-bills-withdrawal-rachel-reeves" target="_self">HMRC warning: Pensioners hit with £100,000 tax bills ahead of Rachel Reeves tax raid</a></li><li><a href="https://www.gbnews.com/money/state-pension-dwp-errors-underpaid" target="_self">State pension alert: DWP urged to 'fix errors' as older Britons underpaid by 'thousands of pounds'</a></li><li><a href="https://www.gbnews.com/money/state-pension-dwp-underpayment-system" target="_self">State pension disaster as DWP underpayments hit £500m due to 'issues plaguing the system'</a></li></ul><h3></h3><br/><img alt="Martin Lewis" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="7c959b3299b3bd9cd96de650207a5f29" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="3a6a2" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gbnews.com/media-library/martin-lewis.jpg?id=34142933&width=980"/><h3></h3><br/><p>Lewis explained: "That'd be welcome but still doesn't fix the worst underlying problem... the means testing mechanism is flawed."</p><p>He highlighted that around 700,000 vulnerable pensioners with incomes under £11,500 still miss out on Winter Fuel Payments because they don't claim Pension Credit due to its "overly arduous process".</p><p>"Thus they miss out in both the important support that brings and on Winter Fuel Payments. That needs to change," Lewis added.</p></br>
