Labour MP Neil Duncan-Jordan has urged Pensions Minister Emma Reynolds to “reconsider” the means-testing of winter fuel payments, highlighting the plight of the poorest pensioners during a Commons session on Monday. Despite rejecting the plea, Ms Reynolds emphasised the urgency for eligible individuals to apply for Pension Credit before the looming deadline.
She responded firmly, stating: “We won’t reconsider that decision because in a very tight fiscal environment when we inherited a £22 billion black hole from the party opposite, we had to take some very tough decisions. What I will say is, he’s given me the opportunity to remind people that they have until Saturday to make a Pension Credit claim, which can be backdated and which will passport them to winter fuel payments and other related benefits.”
Mr Duncan-Jordan had previously told the Commons: “The poorest pensioners in our society are those who are eligible for the pension credit but don’t claim it, or just a few pounds above the threshold and they miss out on passported support. Means testing by its very nature is simply not the best way to get help to those who need it most, so will the minister reconsider the recent decision to means-test the winter fuel allowance?”
During a Commons debate, the Tories lambasted the Government for apparently abandoning its goal of achieving an 80% employment rate. Shadow work and pensions secretary Helen Whately challenged the Government’s commitment, noting a change in rhetoric from “noticed a shift in the language from target to ambition” to “noticed a shift in the language from target to ambition” and demanded clarification: “Please could (the minister) clear this up for us, are they still committed to the 80% employment target, or is this going to be another broken Labour promise?”
In response, Work and Pensions Minister Alison McGovern defended the position, stating: “I make no apologies for having ambition for people in our labour market. It was always an ambition, because on this side of the House we want our jobcentres to shift away from pointless admin towards real ambition from everybody who steps foot over the door of one.”
Not satisfied, Ms Whately retorted: “I think we all heard that loud and clear that they’ve ditched their employment target.”
Ms McGovern hit back with a reference to previous criticism from the opposition, saying: “I would like to thank the shadow secretary of state, because in response to our Get Britain Working plan, she was kind enough to refer to our plans as quote ‘rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic’, and I thought it was very brave of her to acknowledge that the last Government’s legacy to us was a sinking ship.”
The Conservatives further criticised the Government’s Get Britain Working white paper as merely a “rehash” of existing support measures, while calling for stronger conditionality for benefit recipients.
Shadow work and pensions minister Danny Kruger criticised the government’s approach, saying: “The fact is that their white paper is just a rehash of existing support and a bit of money with no conditions, no strings attached. But there’s one thing the last government was doing, that this Government is not – and I mean strengthening the conditionality for benefits.”
He then questioned the Work and Pensions Secretary, Liz Kendall, asking: “What new measures will she introduce to ensure that people who can work, will work?”
In response, she challenged the effectiveness of previous programmes: “If his programmes had been so successful why have we got a record 2.8 million people out of work due to long-term health problems, a million young people not in education, employment, and training?”
How to apply for DWP Pension Credit and get Winter Fuel Payment
The value of a Winter Fuel Payment is £200 for people born between September 23, 1944, and September 22, 1958, and £300 for those born before September 23, 1944. The payment started being credited to bank accounts from November 25, 2024, with the payment reference beginning with the customer’s National Insurance number followed by ‘DWP WFP’. Those who do not receive a payment by January 29, 2025, should contact the department.
The Government has urged those who do not receive Pension Credit and think they might be eligible to check. This can be done via the DWP website.
Pension Credit gives you extra money to help with your living costs if you’re over State Pension age and on a low income. Pension Credit can also help with housing costs such as ground rent or service charges.
You might get extra help if you’re a carer, severely disabled, or responsible for a child or young person. Pension Credit is separate from your State Pension. You can get Pension Credit even if you have other income, savings or own your own home.
If you get Pension Credit you can also get other help, such as:
