Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of people no longer eligible for the winter fuel allowance are higher or additional rate taxpayers.

The Winter Fuel Payment continues to be paid to pensioner households with someone receiving Pension Credit . This means that the Winter Fuel Payment will be better targeted to low income pensioners who need it. Winter Fuel Payments are paid on a household basis whereas taxpayer status is on an individual basis.

455,000 individuals over the state pension age are estimated to pay higher rate income tax, and 39,300 additional rate income tax.