Protests have taken place outside Parliament to reinstate the winter fuel payment (Image: Getty)
The government has responded to fresh demands for an increase in the and a halt to means testing for the winter fuel allowance. A petition on the parliamentary website, initiated by user Michael Thompson, called for changes in how the settlement is made, arguing that all payments to pensioners should not be based on their means.
The , prompting an official response from the government. The Department for Work and Pensions assured in its response that this Government would ‘never’ introduce a means test for the .
However, it defended the decision regarding the , which was aimed at cost-saving and resulted in about 10 million pensioners losing the cash, as ‘tough but fair’. The petition stated: “We demand the government stop means testing pensioners, that we think is a degrading and humiliating practice.
“We also think the should be increased. We believe that for too long, our elderly have been portrayed as merely burdens on the NHS and the modern welfare state. We think that the elderly should be entitled to a decent pension and a comfortable lifestyle as many will have already paid into the system for longer than the rest of the population by now. We believe any Government should have a responsibility toward our nation’s elderly people.”
“In the Victorian era, retirement was often only an option for those who had accrued wealth. Are we regressing back to those Dickensian times? We believe means testing is an abhorrent practice that is demeaning and intrusive,” expressed a concerned voice amid rising tensions over pensioner support.
The Department for Work and Pensions responded: “The Government does not and will not means-test the . The Government is committed to supporting current and future generations of pensioners and giving them the dignity and security they deserve in retirement. There is no means test for the , and this Government will never introduce one.”
They further reinforced their commitment, “We have made a commitment to the for the entirety of this Parliament which means spending on people’s State Pensions is forecast to rise by over £31 billion. Our commitment means millions of pensioners are set to see their rise by up to £1,900 a year by the end of this Parliament. Protecting the even in the current economic climate shows our steadfast commitment to pensioners.”
Nevertheless, with an eye on fiscal stability, they addressed the necessary austerity measures: “Given the substantial pressures faced by the public finances, the Government has had to make difficult decisions to bring the public finances back under control. This includes the decision to target the on low-income pensioners who need it most.”
The Government has defended its financial strategy, highlighting the benefits to public services and pensioners: “It is because this Government has taken tough but fair decisions to put the public finances on a stable footing that it has been possible to invest an extra £22.6bn in day-to-day health spending in England over this financial year and next with consequential funding increases for the Welsh and Scottish Governments.
“We are committed to investing in and reforming the health service so that it delivers the care that older generations in particular deserve. The new was introduced in April 2016 with the aim of providing a clearer, sustainable foundation for private saving. The full rate of £221.20 per week (2024/25) was set above the Standard Minimum Guarantee level of Pension Credit, to remove disincentives to save.”
They also noted improvements for retirees: “Removing previous savings disincentives by reducing the interaction between private pension income and means-tested benefits for those with modest incomes, has enabled pensioners to see greater benefits from their retirement savings or income.”
The statement concluded with a vision for the future: “Together, the new and Automatic Enrolment to workplace savings provide a robust system for retirement provision for decades to come. Pension Credit will continue to provide an important safety net for those who need it.”
Two legal challenges to the fuel payment axe are currently going through the courts.