Latest news with #WinterFuelPayment
The Herald Scotland
18 hours ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Swinney defends universal winter fuel payment U-turn
On Wednesday, the Scottish Government announced that only pensioners with an income of less than £35,000 would receive financial help. While those with higher incomes will still receive the payment, they will be required to repay the money via their tax return or PAYE. Age Scotland estimates that around 160,000 households will lose out. READ MORE Less well-off pensioners will receive £203.40 if they are under 80, and £305.10 if they are older — marginally higher amounts than the £200 and £300 paid in England and Wales. Asked about the decision in Holyrood on Thursday, the First Minister said: 'What we have done is we have taken an approach which reflects the system that we believe will make the greatest impact on tackling the impact of fuel costs on older people within our society. 'That has resulted in us taking the steps that we have set out to make sure that we can target and focus the resources that are available to us and to enable us to utilise the resources that are under the control of the Scottish Government as effectively as we can to meet our wider priorities within the public works.' The announcement came only weeks after Mr Swinney argued that the winter fuel payment should be restored to 'all pensioner households'. Speaking ahead of a meeting with Sir Keir Starmer on 23 May, he called for a 'national mission' to raise living standards and a 'restoration' of the benefit 'so all pensioners get a payment'. Asked about the U-turn, Mr Swinney said: 'Since then, the UK Government has changed its position, and it has set out an approach which has got financial implications for the Scottish Government, and we have responded accordingly.' READ MORE The decision to originally means-test the Winter Fuel Payment — stripping it from around 10 million better-off pensioners — was one of the new Labour Government's first and most controversial policies. At the time, Chancellor Rachel Reeves justified it as a necessary 'hard choice' to save about £1.5 billion a year. With the Winter Fuel Payment being devolved, that prompted the Scottish Government to announce its own benefit, the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment. Those on certain means-tested benefits were due to receive £200, or £300 for over-80s, while all other pensioner households would receive a flat £100. Last week, the Chancellor confirmed that around three-quarters of pensioners in England and Wales — those on incomes up to £35,000 — would again receive a payment of £200, or £300 if they are over 80, from this winter. The U-turn by the Treasury meant that thousands of Scottish pensioner households not on Pension Credit but with a modest income were in line for just £100 — whereas if they lived in England or Wales, they would get £200 or £300 if over 80. In a speech on Monday, the First Minister confirmed the Scottish Government's benefit would at least match that proposed by the UK Government.
Daily Record
19 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Warm Home Discount Scheme to expand and pay six million people £150 this winter
A further 240,000 households in Scotland will receive the energy bill boost this winter. Millions of households will see their energy bills cut by £150 this winter, as the UK Government delivers another major package of support to ease the cost of living for working families through the Plan for Change. Over 6 million households will benefit this year - an increase of 2.7m households, including 900,000 more families with children and a total of 1.8m households in fuel poverty. Every billpayer on means-tested benefits will now qualify, removing restrictions that previously excluded many who needed help and providing peace of mind to millions more families. The move will see 240,000 Scottish households receive the discount for the first time this winter. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said the major expansion of support for working families is the latest in a raft of cost of living support made possible because the UK Government has stabilised the economy, fixed the foundations and repaired the public finances - deliberate choices which are helping provide security and more money in the pockets of working families through the Plan for Change. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: "I know families are still struggling with the cost of living, and I know the fear that comes with not being able to afford your next bill. "Providing security and peace of mind for working people is deeply personal to me as Prime Minister and foundational for the Plan for Change. I have no doubt that, like rolling out free school meals, breakfast clubs and childcare support, extending this £150 energy bills support to millions more families will make a real difference." Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: "Millions of families will get vital support with the cost of living this coming winter, demonstrating this government's commitment to put money in people's pockets through our Plan for Change." The energy price cap is also falling in July and today's announcement adds a further £150 in direct support for millions. This expansion of the Warm Homes Discount means families can plan for winter in the knowledge that they will receive support, giving them certainty and peace of mind before summer. The UK Government said it has also protected working people's payslips from higher taxes, frozen fuel duty and are increasing the minimum wage to give pay rises of up to £1,400 a year to millions of low-income workers. Pensioners across the UK with an income below £35,000 will also receive either a Winter Fuel Payment or Pension Age Winter Heating Payment this year, worth between £200 and £305. The expansion of the Warm Home Discount will be offset by new efficiency savings across the energy system. For example, Ofgem have confirmed a decrease in the operating cost allowance of the price cap for the average billpayer which will take money off bills. Ofgem's plans to reduce the overall stock of consumer debt, which is currently recouped via a levy on all bills, will also produce savings that help to fund the Warm Homes Discount. Adam Scorer, Chief Executive, National Energy Action said: "It's hugely positive that across Great Britain, many more low-income households on means-tested benefits will get some direct support to tackle unaffordable bills and record energy debts this winter. "Vitally, this includes many more low-income working-age households with children, who are living with the daily consequences of not having access to enough energy at home." The change will mean that all households where the means-tested benefit recipient (or their partner or legal appointee) is named on the energy bill will now be eligible to receive the £150 electricity bill rebate. It's important to be aware the money is paid directly to the energy supplier. The number of families who will receive the discount for the first time, broken down by region, include: Scotland: 240,000 Wales: 110,000 North East England: 100,000 North West England: 280,000 Yorkshire and the Humber: 210,000 East Midlands: 160,000 West Midlands: 270,000 East of England: 250,000 London: 570,000 South East England: 350,000 South West England: 220,000
Daily Record
20 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Quarter of a million more Scots households to receive £150 energy bills discount
Some 240,000 more families in Scotland will be eligible for the Warm Home Discount. Nearly a quarter of a million more Scots households are to receive a £150 energy bills discount this winter. Some 240,000 more families in Scotland will be eligible for the Warm Home Discount, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has announced. People who are on means-tested benefits will automatically see the money knocked off their bills. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: 'I know families are still struggling with the cost of living, and I know the fear that comes with not being able to afford your next bill. 'Providing security and peace of mind for working people is deeply personal to me as Prime Minister and foundational for the Plan for Change. 'I have no doubt that, like rolling out free school meals, breakfast clubs and childcare support, extending this £150 energy bills support to millions more families will make a real difference.' The number of households UK-wide receiving the discount is doubling to six million. This includes 900,000 families with children and 1.8 million homes in fuel poverty. Energy companies pay for the discount but the government sets out who is eligible to receive it. The Tories had limited who would receive it to those on the guaranteed element of pension credit, or those on means-tested-benefits living in a home with a high energy score. But now the eligibility based on property size, type and home energy score has been binned. It comes soon after the UK Government U-turned on its cuts to the Winter Fuel Payment. Labour took away the benefit of up to £300 a year away from all pensioners who are not on Pension Credit just weeks after last year's general election. But earlier this month the UK Government announced most pensioners will now receive it. The Scottish government had said it would provide still provide a universal payment, but changed its plans to restore the payment in full to most pensioners. Those with an income of more than £35,000 will have the payment clawed back through the tax system.
The Independent
a day ago
- Business
- The Independent
Urgent scam warning issued over £150 Winter Fuel payment
Pensioners are being warned about scam texts falsely claiming they need to apply for the Winter Fuel Payment. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that the Winter Fuel Payment is now automatically issued, requiring no application from eligible individuals. Eligibility for the payment has been expanded to include approximately nine million pensioners with incomes up to £35,000. Fraudulent texts often request bank details, payment, or create a false sense of urgency with application deadlines. Authorities advise vigilance and urge people not to provide personal information in response to these scam messages.
The Independent
a day ago
- Business
- The Independent
Winter Fuel Payment scammers posing as DWP target vulnerable pensioners
Pensioners have been warned to watch out for scam texts about the Winter Fuel Payment changes after Labour confirmed millions more will be able to receive it this year. Eligibility for the payment was slashed for 2024, excluding all but the very poorest pensioners from claiming it. The government has now responded to calls to undo this measure, raising the threshold so that anyone with an income of or below £35,000 will receive it this winter. Just over three-quarters of pensioners – nine million people – will now receive the benefit, the government estimates. The further two million pensioners with taxable incomes above the threshold will remain exempt. Crucially, pensioners now don't need to do anything to receive the payment. It will now be paid automatically to all, with those with incomes over the threshold having it clawed back automatically through the tax system. This means any text purporting to be from the DWP urging pensioners to 'apply' for their Winter Fuel Payment a scam, the department has confirmed. Those receiving these texts should be especially wary if they contain requests for bank details, payment, or claim there is a time limit. The issue was recently raised by Cheshire West and Chester council, whose trading standards officers are warning pensioners in the area against falling foul of the scam texts after seeing a rise in them. The local authority has shared an example of a fraudulent text that was sent to a pensioner in the area: 'DWP Service Centre: You have not yet completed your application for an energy subsidy for 2024-2025. The subsidy is £300. It is important that you submit your application by 10 June. Late applications will not be processed. (LINK) (Please reply 'yes' and then exit the text message and re-open to activate the link, or copy the link and open it in your browser). Have a great day, DWP.' One woman on social media shared how she fell foul of a scam earlier this year: 'I'm absolutely furious! I have just been the victim of a scam targeting older people. I was sent a text message supposed to be from the D.W.P, telling me about the winter fuel payment. The text continues to say that I can't get this because I have not completed the application form yet. 'They said that the deadline is tomorrow and therefore I must complete the form urgently. So they wanted details my full name phone number email address and they wanted to test my card by saying if I pay them £1 then they would reimburse me. 'When I tried to use my debit card it wasn't acceptable so I used my credit card. After that it said that I should send the code that they had sent me to make sure my money was safe. But they hadn't sent me a code. And everytime I pressed help nothing happened. 'They have details to all my money and I am unbelievably stressed so please people be very careful and don't fall for a scam like I did.' Fortunately, she was able to contact her bank to cancel both of her cards, meaning no money had been lost. The pensioner revealed that the scammers had attempted to add her credit card to a mobile phone, but failed because it was cancelled. Cheshire West and Chester council cabinet member for community safety, Stuart Bingham said: 'This latest scam appears timed to coincide with the chancellor's announcement this week of the changes to the winter fuel payment, extending the eligibility criteria. Watch out for fake text messages claiming to be from the Government, inviting you to apply for a new winter fuel payment. 'This scam is a repeat of a similar scam in the autumn of 2024. There is no requirement to apply for the payment. Do not give anyone your personal data after receiving a text message. Please also check on vulnerable neighbours and relatives to ensure they are aware of this scam.'
