Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to paragraph 43 of Her Majesty's Treasury's policy document entitled, Fixing the foundations public spending audit 2024-2025, published on 29 July 2024, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of removing the Winter Fuel Payment from people living in areas with a high cost of living.

Ministers took account of the equality impacts in reaching their decision to link Winter Fuel Payments to receipt of Pension Credit and other qualifying income-related benefits in England and Wales from winter 2024-25.

Given the substantial pressures faced by the public finances this year and next, the Government has had to make hard choices to bring the public finances back under control. But it remains committed to pensioners – everyone in our society, no matter their working history or savings deserves a comfortable and dignified retirement.

Over the next five years we expect over 12 million pensioners will see their State Pensions increase by thousands of pounds as a result of our commitment to the Triple Lock. Protecting the Triple Lock even in the current economic climate shows our steadfast commitment to pensioners.

We are prioritising support for pensioners through our Warm Homes Plan which will support investment in insulation and low carbon heating – upgrading millions of homes over this Parliament. Our long-term plan will protect billpayers permanently, reduce fuel poverty, and get the UK back on track to meet our climate goals.

We know there are pensioner households which aren’t claiming the Pension Credit they are entitled to, and we will work with external partners and local authorities to encourage people to make a claim.