The UK Government has reversed its earlier decision to restrict Winter Fuel Payments, reinstating support for pensioners with an income of £35,000 or below.
The change will apply across England and Wales and, crucially, the associated funding will also be extended to Northern Ireland.
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has welcomed the move, having consistently opposed the original restrictions. The previous decision, announced last July, had limited eligibility to pensioners receiving Pension Credit and other means-tested benefits.
This sparked widespread concern, particularly in Northern Ireland, where thousands of pensioners were affected.
Minister Lyons and his Executive colleagues had written to the Prime Minister urging a return to the universal Winter Fuel Payment model. The recent reversal by HM Treasury is being viewed as a direct response to that pressure and the broader criticism from pensioner advocacy groups.
Last year, following the announcement of the eligibility changes, Minister Lyons secured £17 million in local Executive funding to deliver a one-off £100 payment to pensioners impacted in Northern Ireland. This interim support was designed to ease the burden during a particularly challenging winter period.
Now that the UK Government has reversed its policy, Minister Lyons has confirmed that discussions are underway between his department and the Department for Work and Pensions to coordinate implementation. The aim is to ensure Northern Ireland is fully prepared to mirror the revised approach and continue supporting its older population effectively.
This policy shift comes at a time when energy costs and cost-of-living pressures remain high, making winter fuel support a critical issue for households across the UK.
