Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will conduct a lessons learned review from the initial period of the decision to withdraw universal Winter Fuel Payments.

The Government linked eligibility for Winter Fuel Payments to receipt of Pension Credit or certain other benefits for winter 2024/25 to help address immediate fiscal pressures, and to focus them on those with the lowest incomes.

From this winter (2025/26), the vast majority of pensioners in England and Wales – over three quarters – will now benefit from Winter Fuel Payments. Payments will be made to all pensioners in England and Wales. As in previous years, these will be payments of between £100 and £300, depending on age and whether the pensioner is living alone or in a household with another pensioner. Pensioners with a total income over £35,000 (excluding disability benefits), and who are not in receipt of Pension Credit or other relevant means-tested benefit, will have the Winter Fuel Payment recovered through the tax system.