Winter Fuel Payment
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason a single pensioner's household income could be less than that of a couple and the couple could be entitled to the Winter Fuel Allowance where the single pensioner was not.
Answered by Torsten Bell
Winter Fuel Payments are assessed and, where applicable, recovered on an individual basis rather than by reference to total household income. This reflects the structure of the personal tax system.
Winter Fuel Payments remain a simple scheme to provide a lump sum payment to the majority of pensioners quickly and automatically, without the need to claim. The system for withdrawing the Winter Fuel Payment for those with higher incomes is simple and cost-effective to deliver.
The £35,000 threshold means that more than three quarters of pensioners will benefit from the Winter Fuel Payment. The threshold is in line with average earnings and means those on lower and middle incomes are receiving the help they need whilst ensuring payments are better targeted than the previous near-universal payment; and ensuring fairness for both pensioners and taxpayers.
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