The annual payment is worth between £200 and £300.

Who is eligible for the £300 Winter Fuel Payment (Image: Getty)

Sir Keir Starmer has announced plans to make more pensioners eligible for the winter fuel payment, a U-turn on Labour’s highly criticised policy to reduce uptake and save money. The Prime Minister has faced increasing pressure to change course following backlash on the move that stripped millions of the annual payment, worth up to £300, last winter.

Starmer’s stepdown represents a huge victory for The Express who led the crusade to reverse Labour’s cruel stance. During Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Sir Keir said: “I recognise that people are still feeling the pressure of the cost-of-living crisis, including pensioners. As the economy improves, we want to make sure people feel those improvements in their days as their lives go forward. That is why we want to ensure that, as we go forward, more pensioners are eligible for winter fuel payments.” He said the Government will “only make decisions we can afford” and will therefore look at this as part of the next fiscal event. So, what is the winter fuel payment, and who is currently eligible?

Sir Keir Starmer has announced plans to make more pensioners eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment

What is the Winter Fuel Payment?

First launched in 1997, the winter fuel payment is a tax-free benefit to help older and vulnerable Britons meet the costs of heating their homes.

The payments, which are distributed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) are typically made between November and December every year to those eligible.

Who is eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment?

The payment was previously available to everyone above the state pension age (currently 66) in the UK, but in the 2024/25 tax year, new rules enforced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves meant only state pensioners on means-tested benefits would qualify. Ms Reeves said the move would help save the Government between £1.3billion and £1.5billion per year.

In line with new rules, people currently qualify for a winter fuel payment if they were born before September 23, 1958. They must also live in England or Wales and get one of the following benefits:

• Pension Credit
• Universal Credit
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Income Support.

The move stripped the payments away from an estimated 10 million pensioners.

However, following mounting pressure from Labour ranks, Sir Keir has said the criteria will change again to make “more pensioners eligible” for the payment. It’s currently not clear what the new threshold will be, how many more will be eligible, and when the changes will come into effect.

Charities fear hundreds of thousands will still miss out on the payment due to “complex” benefit application processes.

Lucy Bannister, head of policy and influencing at charity Turn2us, said: “We welcome the Prime Minister’s indication that the Government plans to widen eligibility for winter fuel payment, helping more low-income pensioners to stay warm and safe this winter. We hear from people every year about the difference this support makes.

“But we remain concerned that hundreds of thousands of eligible pensioners still miss out each year due to a complex application process, lack of awareness, and stigma. Many feel shame for needing support, a direct result of how benefits are too often talked about by politicians and the media. The Government must urgently ensure its narrative around its wider social security reforms reduces this stigma, simplify the system, and proactively reach those being left behind.”

How much is the Winter Fuel Payment?

During the 2024/25 tax year, payment amounts ranged between £200 and £300, and the amount eligible people received depended on their birth date.

People who live alone received:

• £200 if they were born between September 23, 1944, and September 22, 1958
• £300 if they were born before September 23, 1944.

If a person and their partner jointly claim any of the benefits, one receives a payment of either:

• £200 if one or both were born between September 23, 1944, and September 22, 1958
• £300 if one or both were born before September 23, 1944.