The consumer champion warns the Winter Fuel Payment rule change will put ‘too big a squeeze’ on pensioner households.
Martin Lewis is urging Chancellor Rachel Reeves to look at widening eligibility for this year’s Winter Fuel Payment following her announcement on Monday that only those of State Pension age on means-tested benefits will qualify for the annual heating bill help, worth up to £300. The consumer champion said the Chancellor’s decision to end the previously universal payment for pensioners unless they are on benefits is “too narrow with the winter we have coming”.
"The Energy Price Cap is likely to rise 10 per cent this October and stay high across the winter, leaving most energy bills nearly double those pre-crisis, at levels unaffordable for millions. "Plus, with this announcement, the Government has a huge moral imperative to ensure the 880,000 people eligible for Pension Credit who don't get it, are informed, educated and helped through the process. It is planning an awareness-raising campaign, but it needs to ensure that it reaches every corner - and if possible proactively and personally contact people.
Quickest way to check eligibility for Pension Credit Older people, or friends and family, can quickly check their eligibility and get an estimate of what they may receive by using the online Pension Credit calculator on GOV.UK here. Mixed aged older couples and Pension Credit In May 2019, the law changed so a ‘mixed age couple’ - a couple where one partner is of State Pension age and the other is under it - are considered to be a ‘working age’ couple when checking entitlement to means-tested benefits.
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