The development comes days after Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed this week that nine million people who had the £2-300 benefit axed last winter will get it this year.
Millions of UK pensioners will receive winter fuel payments (Image: Getty Images)
The Department for Work and Pensions has announced that individuals born before a specific date will be eligible to receive the winter fuel payment this year. The development comes days after Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed this week that nine million people who had the £2-300 benefit axed last winter will get it this year.
The details have been updated on the Gov.uk website explaining that those earning above £35,000 will also be eligible to receive the money. However, the money can be reclaimed from them through the tax system. Sir Keir Starmer has maintained that the decision to restore the majority of winter fuel payments was not influenced by the political backlash surrounding the policy.
The DWP officials said that only people born before an exact date would get the money, reports Teesside Live.
It said: “The winter fuel payment for 2025 to 2026 will be made to everyone in England and Wales born before September 22, 1959, unless you choose not to get it. You could get either £200 or £300 to help you pay your heating bills for winter.
“You do not need to do anything – payments will be made automatically.” Officials said everyone will be paid the money – but warned those earning over a certain amount it would be recovered through the HMRC but did not give details as to how this would happen.
“If your income is over £35,000, your winter fuel payment will be recovered later through HMRC. Details of the 2025 to 2026 payment will be available by the end of June 2025.”
Warnings have been issued this week about the impact of fiscal drag due to the £35,000 earnings limit, which could result in hundreds of thousands of people losing their winter fuel payment during this parliamentary term.
Ms. Reeves has confirmed that the £35,000 threshold will not increase with inflation, meaning an estimated 500,000 additional individuals may be affected before the end of this parliament.
BBC moneybox expert Paul Lewis said: “The £35,000 income limit for keeping the winter fuel payment will be frozen Ministers confirm, leading to more pensioners repaying the money year by year it will join frozen bereavement payments, capital limits, child benefit limits, and tax thresholds.”
