UK Winter Fuel Payment Loophole Allows Thousands Without Pension Credit To Claim £300

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has reversed Labour's previous decision to restrict Winter Fuel Payments to only pensioners receiving means-tested benefits, announcing plans to extend eligibility to more pensioners amid ongoing cost-of-living pressures. The Government intends to lower the qualifying threshold as the economy improves, with further details expected at an upcoming fiscal event, but the exact timing and implementation remain unclear. Meanwhile, a little-known Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) loophole allows some pensioners to claim the £300 Winter Fuel Payment despite not currently receiving Pension Credit, by backdating claims through qualifying benefits such as Universal Credit. This loophole offers a crucial opportunity for older households, particularly couples where one partner is below state pension age, to access support ahead of the policy changes. However, experts warn that any new system to broaden eligibility could face delays and might require new claims, risking low take-up similar to Pension Credit. The reversal is seen as a victory for campaigners concerned about vulnerable elderly people facing fuel poverty due to prior cuts, though many details about the rollout and eligibility remain to be clarified.