UK Winter Fuel Payment Overhaul Affects 150,000 Pensioners by 2029

The UK government has implemented changes to the Winter Fuel Payment system, making it means-tested and restricting eligibility to pensioners who receive Pension Credit. As a result, official forecasts indicate that around 150,000 fewer pensioners will qualify for the payment by 2029, with the number of eligible recipients projected to decline from 1.365 million in 2025/26 to 1.210 million in 2029/30. The shift away from universal payments is attributed to a combination of a rising state pension age, improved incomes for recent retirees, and fewer people qualifying for Pension Credit. Critics, including former pensions minister Steve Webb and advocacy groups like Age UK, warn that these changes could leave many vulnerable seniors without vital support for winter energy bills, particularly those on modest incomes just above the Pension Credit threshold. While government campaigns have temporarily increased Pension Credit take-up, experts caution that these efforts have not reversed the overall downward trend in eligibility and support. The long-term impact is expected to be an increase in fuel poverty and financial hardship among older people during winter months.