‘Not Clear’ How Cutting Winter Fuel Payments Will Save Money, Say Government Advisers

The Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC) has said it is not clear how limiting access to Winter Fuel Payments will save money, given the rise in the number of those applying for Pension Credit. In a letter to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) published on Thursday, the SSAC said, “The direct savings from the significantly reduced eligibility for Winter Fuel Payments are partially offset by the cost of the rise in the number of claims to Pension Credit and the additional resources being deployed to process them.” The SSAC, which provides advice on benefits to ministers, added that given the government’s efforts to increase the take-up of Pension Credit and the media attention that the issue has received, the number of additional successful claims could be much higher than predicted, noting that recent data published by the DWP indicate more than a doubling in the number of weekly Pension Credit claims since the chancellor announced changes to the Winter Fuel Payment....