The eligibility thresholds for winter fuel payments will be looked at, the prime minister has said, but he did not commit to a U-turn on the controversial means-testing of a previously universal pensioner benefit.  

In response to Labour MP Sarah Owen raising the impact of inflation on pensioners in today's PMQs, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said that “as the economy improves, we want to make sure people feel those improvements... as their lives go forward. And that is why we want to ensure that as we go forward, more pensioners are eligible for winter fuel payments.” 

He added: “We will only take decisions we can afford. That is why we will look at that as part of a fiscal event.”  

Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch later raised winter fuel payments again, asking if there will be a U-turn, with Starmer repeating that the thresholds will be looked at.  

The means-testing of winter fuel payments, limiting the payment of up to £300 mainly to pension credit claimants, was announced in July last year and was Labour’s first fiscal decision, voted through despite unease among some of the party’s MPs.   

The move has been blamed for the party’s poor results in recent local elections, where the Reform party gained numerous seats. This has seemingly prompted the announcement that 11 Downing Street might yet change its mind on the payment.  

When it was brought in, campaigners criticised the means-testing threshold as being too low, and that pensions credit is vastly underclaimed, while its cliff-edge nature leaves some pensioners destitute. The Work and Pensions Committee, chaired by Debbie Abrahams and consisting mainly of Labour MPs, launched an inquiry into pensioner poverty in response. Pensioners are still the least likely age group to live in poverty.  

Do you expect the government to raise the eligibility threshold for winter fuel payments?