Charity 'grateful' at winter fuel payment U-turn

NEWCASTLE older people's charity has welcomed the reinstatement of winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners - but says Labour should never have imposed its hugely unpopular cut.

- DANIEL HOLLAND Local Democracy Reporter

Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed a U-turn on Monday which will mean that nine million pensioners across England and Wales will receive the payment worth up to £300 this winter.

It comes after a severe public backlash to the Treasury’s 2024 decision to limit the benefit only to those who claimed pension credit.

Benwell-based charity Search told the Local Democracy Reporting Service on Tuesday that it was “very grateful” to see the Government reversing its stance, with the payments now set to be issued automatically to all pensioners with an income of under £35,000.

Energy adviser Meg Henderson said: “Up until yesterday there was a lot of dismay and alarm about how they [her clients] were going to get through the winter. The fluctuation of the energy crisis on top of losing the winter fuel payments, as well as the cost of living generally, meant it really was eat or heat.