Labour’s winter fuel payment cut has proven one of the most controversial policies brought in by the party since it got into government last summer – and today Chancellor Rachel Reeves has promised the payment will be reinstated to some pensioners by this winter. Speaking from Manchester this morning, the Chancellor said that ‘more people will get winter fuel payments this winter’ and hinted that changes to the current £11,500 threshold would be set out in her spending review next Wednesday.
This doesn’t mean that the universal payment will be making a return, however. Reeves said today that a ‘means test’ would be introduced by the end of the year while pensions minister Torsten Bell has ruled out returning the benefit to all pensioners.
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