Starmer declares U-turn on winter gas cost cuts

[ad_1] Paul Seddon Political reporter

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/7380/live/ecf38560-363e-11f0-8bb4-2fc6cc6687e7.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/7380/live/ecf38560-363e-11f0-8bb4-2fc6cc6687e7.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/7380/live/ecf38560-363e-11f0-8bb4-2fc6cc6687e7.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/7380/live/ecf38560-363e-11f0-8bb4-2fc6cc6687e7.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/7380/live/ecf38560-363e-11f0-8bb4-2fc6cc6687e7.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/7380/live/ecf38560-363e-11f0-8bb4-2fc6cc6687e7.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/7380/live/ecf38560-363e-11f0-8bb4-2fc6cc6687e7.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/7380/live/ecf38560-363e-11f0-8bb4-2fc6cc6687e7.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="PA Media Protests agains the winter fuel payment cuts " class="sc-4abb68ca-0 ldLcJe"/> PA Media The cuts prompted protests from unions final yr

Sir Keir Starmer has introduced a U-turn on final yr's controversial cuts to winter gas funds.

Greater than 9 million pensioners misplaced out on the funds, price as much as £300, after eligibility for the pension top-up was tightened final yr.

Talking at Prime Minister's Questions, Sir Keir mentioned ministers would look once more on the threshold to permit "extra pensioners" to qualify once more.

He didn't present additional particulars, including that the adjustments can be made at a future Funds.

However he added the federal government would solely "make selections we will afford".

The winter gas cost is a lump-sum quantity of £200 a yr for pensioners beneath 80, growing to £300 for over-80s, paid in November or December.

Round 9 million pensioners misplaced out on the funds final yr after the federal government restricted them to those that qualify for pension credit score and different income-related advantages, to save lots of an estimated £1.4bn.

Some Labour MPs have blamed the coverage for losses finally month's native elections, the place the occasion misplaced round two-thirds of the seats it was defending.

Grumbling from MPs usually on the Labour left unfold into the occasion extra extensively, and even MPs who defended the coverage mentioned it was probably the most regularly raised concern by members of the general public.

The coverage has additionally confronted fierce criticism from pensioner charities, and has been opposed by all the principle opposition events at Westminster.

Downing Avenue ruled out changes earlier this month, however Chancellor Rachel Reeves hinted at a change in place earlier this week, saying she was listening to "issues" in regards to the coverage.

Tory chief Kemi Badenoch appeared to welcome the U-turn within the Commons, including that limiting eligibility for the funds final yr had "pushed hundreds into hardship".

Nonetheless, she later tweeted that the change was "too little, too late".

Liberal Democrat chief Sir Ed Davey additionally welcomed information that eligibility can be expanded, however pressed the prime minister to reverse the cuts "in full".

Eligibility threshold

The earnings threshold to qualify for pension credit score this yr is £11,800 for people and £18,023 for pensioner {couples}.

Offering an alternate option to qualify for the funds may create administrative hurdles for ministers and officers.

Chatting with reporters on Wednesday, a spokesman for the prime minister was unable to say what number of extra pensioners can be eligible for the profit beneath the U-turn.

And he declined to ensure it might be in place this coming winter, however added: "We clearly need to ship this as rapidly as potential.

"We'll solely make selections after we can say the place the cash is coming from, how we will pay for it and that it is inexpensive," he added.

The winter gas cost was launched in 1997 by New Labour as a common cost for all pensioners.

It was billed as a option to assure they might have the ability to pay for elevated heating prices over the winter - though in follow it's a pension top-up, which recipients can spend on no matter they need.

From 2010 onwards, the state pension gained further safety beneath the "triple lock" policy - beneath which pensions go up every year by the best of inflation, common earnings or 2.5%.