Most Pensioners Below Poverty Line Could Lose Winter Fuel Payments, Says Report

Around 1.6 million pensioners living below the poverty line and who do not receive Pension Credit are set to lose out as a result of the government’s decision to means test the Winter Fuel Payments, according to a report by the former pensions minister. Sir Steve Webb, who is now partner at pension consultancy firm Lane Clark & Peacock (LCP), analysed Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) data on low-income pensioner households and found that in 2022/2023, there were 1.9 million people over the age of state pension living below what is commonly regarded as the poverty line, of which only 300,000 were estimated to be receiving Pension Credit....