Winter fuel allowance for pensioners re-instated 🤗

SnowMan

This seems to be all we have in terms of the detail (click on the winter fuel payment for 2025 to 2026 link also on that page)

https://www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment

It says there 

Details of the 2025 to 2026 payment will be available by the end of June 2025.

So perhaps we will have to wait until the end of the month for the detail (?)

Albermarle

NameWithheld said:

For couples it will be split, £100 each, and each will have it claimed back separately depending on their own income. So if one partner earns £40k and one earns £30k, they  they will effectively get £100.

So what happens if one partner is over state pension age and the other is under. That'll be my situation next year, with me the pensioner earning over £35k and my wife, the non-pensioner,  earning below £35k

For couples it will be split, £100 each, 

Where did you find that info as I was looking for it ?
Currently AFAIK, only one pensioner in a household can get it, so that is a significant change.

I would assume on the second point, anybody below SP age will not be relevant to any calculation.

QrizB

Cobbler_tone said:

A bit of deja vu with the child benefit.
They have to set the limits somewhere though and seems that 'most' will now be re-instated.
It had to be simple though. Can you imagine the amount of resources needed to fully administer something with a complex means testing approach?

Universal benefits that you then recover via the tax system are much simpler to administer than means-testing in advance, and avoids the problem of people not claiming them (cf. Pension Credit).

GibbsRule_No3.

Is it before or after tax for the £35,000? 

QrizB

GibbsRule_No3. said:

Is it before or after tax for the £35,000? 

Unless there's a big sign saying otherwise, it'll be before tax.

NameWithheld

Albermarle said:

NameWithheld said:

For couples it will be split, £100 each, and each will have it claimed back separately depending on their own income. So if one partner earns £40k and one earns £30k, they  they will effectively get £100.

So what happens if one partner is over state pension age and the other is under. That'll be my situation next year, with me the pensioner earning over £35k and my wife, the non-pensioner,  earning below £35k

For couples it will be split, £100 each, 

Where did you find that info as I was looking for it ?
Currently AFAIK, only one pensioner in a household can get it, so that is a significant change.

I would assume on the second point, anybody below SP age will not be relevant to any calculation.

From the government's press release which was linked to from The Guardian''s politics live blog.

Sorry, but it's tricky copying and pasting links on my phone 

JoeCrystal

NameWithheld said:

From the government's press release which was linked to from The Guardian''s politics live blog.

Sorry, but it's tricky copying and pasting links on my phone 

Here it is: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/nine-million-pensioners-to-receive-winter-fuel-payments-this-winter I always go to the government site itself to read such releases

As for Albermarle's question, NameWithheld is likely referring to this section in the link:

• From 2025/26 Winter Fuel Payments will be payable in England and Wales at £200 for households including someone between State Pension age and 79, and £300 for households including someone aged 80 or over. Where the household is not getting an income related benefit, such as Pension Credit, a shared payment will be made – e.g. a couple, each under 80, not on Pension Credit will receive a payment of £100 each.

 

m_c_s

Complete U turn from Reeves and Starmer and no detail on how this will be funded.  
Last October we were told the winter fuel payment cuts were necessary to avoid " a run on the pound" (Lucy Powell) and means testing it would be "too complicated" due to Whitehall archaic systems (government officials). 

GibbsRule_No3.

QrizB said:

GibbsRule_No3. said:

Is it before or after tax for the £35,000? 

Unless there's a big sign saying otherwise, it'll be before tax.

I expected that would be the case. Still working at 71 but not worth stopping for £200. I’ll carry on as I am. Assume it is also including PA £12570? I’ll easily be under when I do stop work.

QrizB

m_c_s said:

... and means testing it would be "too complicated" due to Whitehall archaic systems (government officials). 

As discussed above, this isn't means testing by DWP but an additional tax by HMRC. The latter seems to have more flexibility.