Ofgem Ruling, Pensioners May Lose Winter Payment

Ofgem has confirmed new rules requiring suppliers to offer lower standing‑charge tariff options after a consultation, with a final decision expected by year‑end and the tariffs to be rolled out across Britain by the end of January 2026; the regulator has dropped plans to remove standing charges entirely. Ofgem warns fixed network costs can only be moved between bill components, so lower standing charges will come alongside higher unit rates and measures such as minimum‑usage rules to prevent second‑home abuse, meaning bills are unlikely to fall overall. Separate analysis from Lane Clark & Peacock shows more than 100,000 pensioners could lose the £300 Winter Fuel Payment next year as rises in state and private pensions push individual incomes above the frozen £35,000 cutoff, with that total possibly reaching about 500,000 by 2029. Critics call the means‑test a stealth tax that unfairly assesses individual rather than household income and disproportionately penalises single pensioners, creating cliff‑edge effects and prompting calls for a tapered or household‑based approach. The Department for Work and Pensions has warned pensioners to ignore scam texts telling recipients to apply for Winter Fuel Payments (these are paid automatically) and to check official communications end in '.gov.uk'; pensioners can opt out by September 15 if they do not want to receive the payment and amounts for those above the threshold may be clawed back through tax codes.