Overview

• Chancellor Rachel Reeves has confirmed that expanded eligibility will see more pensioners receive winter fuel payments this year following backlash over last year’s cuts
• Pensions Minister Torsten Bell told MPs that universal payments will not return and the means test will remain in place to exclude higher-income pensioners
• Officials are weighing options to extend payments to those on housing and disability benefits, potentially adding around 1.3 million pensioners at an estimated cost of £300 million
• Ministers are exploring a model to recoup payments from wealthier recipients via tax returns, though complexity could delay its use this winter
• The Treasury plans to set out the funding mechanism and exact threshold adjustments at the upcoming spending review on June 11 ahead of the scheme’s rollout