Latest news with #TorstenBell
Daily Record
12 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Exact date pensioners need to opt out of Winter Fuel Payment to avoid HMRC clawback
Around two million pensioners with an income over £35,000 are due to receive this year's Winter Fuel Payment. Pension Credit – Could you or someone you know be eligible? The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will issue Winter Fuel Payments of between £100 and £300 to an estimated nine million pensioners in England and Wales over November and December. People over 66 in Scotland will receive up to £305 through the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment on November 30. Payments of both benefits will be issued automatically. However, Pensions Minister Torsten Bell has confirmed around two million people over State Pension age currently have an annual income above the £35,000 eligibility threshold and can either pay the money back through PAYE or a self Assessment tax return. They can also opt out of receiving the payment. He explained there is no need to take any 'immediate action' but if anyone wants to opt out they must do so before September 15, 2025. The DWP Minister's comments came after Conservative MP Charlie Dewhirst asked the Treasury about the number of pensioners 'who will need to pay back the Winter Fuel Payment through tax system, in each financial year between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2029'. In a written response on Tuesday, Mr Bell said: 'From this winter 2025-26 Winter Fuel Payment eligibility will be expanded in England and Wales. Pensioners with incomes below or equal to £35,000 will benefit from Winter Fuel Payments. 'About nine million individuals will benefit from a Winter Fuel Payment this winter. Winter Fuel Payments will be paid automatically meaning any pensioner receiving a State Pension or DWP benefit or who has previously received a Winter Fuel Payment will not need to make a claim. 'There are about two million individuals with an income above £35,000. Those who receive a Winter Fuel Payment will have the full amount of their Winter Fuel Payment recovered via HMRC. Pensioners do not need to take any immediate action, and those that wish to opt out of receiving the winter fuel payment can do so.' Full details on what you will need before contacting the Winter Fuel Payment Centre can be found on here. Eligibility for Winter Fuel Payments You can get a Winter Fuel Payment if you were born before September 22, 1959 and live in England or Wales. When you will not be eligible You will not be eligible if you: live outside England and Wales were in hospital getting free treatment for the whole of the week of 15 to 21 September 2025 and the year before that need permission to enter the UK and your granted leave says that you cannot claim public funds were in prison for the whole of the week of 15 to 21 September 2025 If you live in a care home You can get Winter Fuel Payment if you live in a care home, however, you will not be eligible if both of the following apply: you get Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) or income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) you lived in a care home for the whole time from 23 June 2025 or earlier Payments DWP guidance explains: 'You'll get a letter in October or November telling you how much Winter Fuel Payment you'll get, if you're eligible. 'If you do not get a letter but think you're eligible, check if you need to make a claim.' It's important to be aware that scammers may try and trick you into making a claim by text, prompting you to click on a link. This is not an official DWP message and should be deleted. If you think you need to claim, follow the guidance on here. The amount you get is based on when you were born and your circumstances between 15 to 21 September 2025. This is called the 'qualifying week'. Any money you get will not affect your other benefits. If you live alone or no one you live with is eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment You will get either: £200 if you were born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959 £300 if you were born before September 22, 1945 If you live with someone else who is eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment Your payment may be different if you get one of the following benefits: Pension Credit Universal Credit income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) Income Support If you do not get any of the benefits You will get a payment of: £100 if you and the person you live with were both born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959 £100 if you were born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959 but the person you live with was born before September 22, 1945 £200 if you were born before September 22, 1945 but the person you live with was born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959 £150 if you and the person you live with were born before September 22, 1945 If you and your partner jointly claim any of the benefits One of you will get a payment of either: £200 if both of you were born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959 £300 if one or both of you were born before September 22, 1945 The money will be paid into the bank account your benefits are usually paid into. If you get any of the benefits (not as part of a joint claim) You will get a payment of either: £200 if you were born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959 £300 if you were born before September 22, 1945 If you live in a care home If you are eligible you'll get either: £100 if you were born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959 £150 if you were born before September 22, 1945 When you will get paid DWP said most payments will be made automatically in November or December. You should get a letter telling you: how much you'll get which bank account it will be paid into - this is usually the same account as your State Pension or other benefits Article continues below DWP added: 'If you do not get a letter or the money has not been paid into your account by 28 January 2026, contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.'
Sky News
09-06-2025
- Business
- Sky News
The five considerable problems with the chancellor's U-turn on winter fuel payments
There are considerable problems with the winter fuel payment U-turn, but perhaps the political argument in favour outweighs them all? First, Rachel Reeves has executed the plan without working out how to pay for it. This, for an iron chancellor, is a wound that opponents won't let her forget. A summer of speculation about tax rises is not a summer anyone looks forward to. Politics latest: Treasury minister challenged over reason for U-turn Second, the fig leaf that she and Treasury ministers are using is an improvement in economic conditions. If you were being polite, you'd say this is contested. The OBR halved growth this year and the OECD downgraded UK forecasts, albeit only by a little, last week. The claim that interest rates are coming down ignores that their descent is slower because of government decisions of the last six months. Third, the question immediately becomes, what next? Why not personal independent payments (PIP) and the two-child benefit cap? At this stage, it would feel like a climbdown if they did not back down over those. But then, what will the markets - already policing this closely - make of it, and could they punish the government? Fourth, this is aggravating divisions in the Parliamentary Labour Party: the soft left Compass group and ministers like Torsten Bell pushing bigger spending arguments. Those MPs in Tory-facing seats who rely on arguments that Labour can be trusted with the public finances are worried. 👉Listen to Politics at Sam and Anne's on your podcast app👈 Fifth, this has created a firm division between No 10 (the PM) and No 11 (the Chancellor). No 10 is now conscious that it does not have enough independent advice about the market reaction to economic policies and is seeking to correct. Others, I am told, are just critical of the chancellor's U-turn - for she wobbled first. Read more:UK to become 'AI maker not taker', says PMHow much cash will Reeves give each department? Given the litany of arguments against, why has it happened? Because the hope is this maxi U-turn lances the boil, removes a significant source of pensioners' anger and brings back Labour voters, a price they calculate worth paying, whatever the fiscal cost. We wait to see who is right.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The five considerable problems with the chancellor's U-turn on winter fuel payments
There are considerable problems with the winter fuel payment U-turn, but perhaps the political argument in favour outweighs them all? First, Rachel Reeves has executed without working out how to pay for it. This, for an iron chancellor, is a wound that opponents won't let her forget. A summer of speculation about tax rises is not a summer anyone looks forward to. Politics latest: Second, the fig leaf that she and Treasury ministers are using is an improvement in economic conditions. If you were being polite, you'd say this is contested. The OBR halved growth this year and the OECD downgraded UK forecasts, albeit only by a little, last week. The claim that interest rates are coming down ignores that their descent is slower because of government decisions of the last six months. Third, the question immediately becomes, what next? Why not personal independent payments (PIP) and the two-child benefit cap? At this stage, it would feel like a climbdown if they did not back down over those. But then, what will the markets - already policing this closely - make of it, and could they punish the government? Fourth, this is aggravating divisions in the Parliamentary Labour Party: the soft left Compass group and ministers like Torsten Bell pushing bigger spending arguments. Those MPs in Tory-facing seats who rely on arguments that Labour can be trusted with the public finances are this has created a firm division between No 10 (the PM) and No 11 (the Chancellor). No 10 is now conscious that it does not have enough independent advice about the market reaction to economic policies and is seeking to correct. Others, I am told, are just critical of the chancellor's U-turn - for she wobbled first. Read more: Given the litany of arguments against, why has it happened? Because the hope is this maxi U-turn lances the boil, removes a significant source of pensioners' anger and brings back Labour voters, a price they calculate worth paying, whatever the fiscal cost. We wait to see who is right.
Sky News
09-06-2025
- Business
- Sky News
The five key issues from chancellor's winter fuel payment U-turn
There are considerable problems with the winter fuel payment U-turn, but perhaps the political argument in favour outweighs them all? First, Rachel Reeves has executed the plan without working out how to pay for it. This, for an iron chancellor, is a wound that opponents won't let her forget. A summer of speculation about tax rises is not a summer anyone looks forward to. Second, the fig leaf that she and Treasury ministers are using is an improvement in economic conditions. If you were being polite, you'd say this is contested. The OBR halved growth this year and the OECD downgraded UK forecasts, albeit only by a little, last week. The claim that interest rates are coming down ignores that their descent is slower because of government decisions of the last six months. Third, the question immediately becomes, what next? Why not personal independent payments (PIP) and the two-child benefit cap? At this stage, it would feel like a climbdown if they did not back down over those. But then, what will the markets - already policing this closely - make of it, and could they punish the government? 1:46 Fourth, this is aggravating divisions in the Parliamentary Labour Party: the soft left Compass group and ministers like Torsten Bell pushing bigger spending arguments. Those MPs in Tory-facing seats who rely on arguments that Labour can be trusted with the public finances are worried. Fifth, this has created a firm division between No 10 (the PM) and No 11 (the Chancellor). No 10 is now conscious that it does not have enough independent advice about the market reaction to economic policies and is seeking to correct. Others, I am told, are just critical of the chancellor's U-turn - for she wobbled first. Given the litany of arguments against, why has it happened? Because the hope is this maxi U-turn lances the boil, removes a significant source of pensioners' anger and brings back Labour voters, a price they calculate worth paying, whatever the fiscal cost.
The Independent
09-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Labour MPs call for benefit cuts to be scrapped after winter fuel payment U-turn
Labour backbenchers are urging the Government to reconsider planned disability benefit cuts following the restoration of winter fuel payments to the majority of pensioners by Rachel Reeves. The chancellor's £1.25 billion initiative, revealed on Monday, will provide automatic payments of up to £300 to pensioners with an income below £35,000 annually. This decision reverses last year's removal of the universal scheme for pensioners, which was reinstated for those claiming specific benefits like pension credit. Nadia Whittome, Labour MP for Nottingham East, cautioned ministers against repeating a "similar mistake" by tightening eligibility criteria for Personal Independence Payments (PIP). Richard Burgon, MP for Leeds East, implored pensions minister Torsten Bell to heed the concerns of backbenchers, offering their assistance to help the Government 'get it right.' In her warning, Ms Whittome said she was not asking Mr Bell 'to keep the status quo or not to support people into work' and added: 'I'm simply asking him not to cut disabled people's benefits.' The pensions minister, who works in both the Treasury and Department for Work and Pensions, replied that the numbers of people receiving PIP is set to 'continue to grow every single year in the years ahead, after the changes set out by this Government'. In its Pathways to Work green paper, the Government proposed a new eligibility requirement, so PIP claimants must score a minimum of four points on one daily living activity, such as preparing food, washing and bathing, using the toilet or reading, to receive the daily living element of the benefit. 'This means that people who only score the lowest points on each of the PIP daily living activities will lose their entitlement in future,' the document noted. Mr Burgon told the Commons: 'As a Labour MP who voted against the winter fuel payment cuts, I very much welcome this change in position, but can I urge the minister and the Government to learn the lessons of this and one of the lessons is, listen to backbenchers? 'If the minister and the Government listen to backbenchers, that can help the Government get it right, help the Government avoid getting it wrong, and so what we don't want is to be here in a year or two's time with a minister sent to the despatch box after not listening to backbenchers on disability benefit cuts, making another U-turn again.' Mr Bell replied that it was 'important to listen to backbenchers, to frontbenchers'. Opposition MPs cheered when the minister added: 'It's even important to listen to members opposite on occasion.' Liberal Democrat MP Mike Martin warned that 'judging by the questions from his own backbenchers, it seems that we're going to have further U-turns on PIP and on the two-child benefit cap'. The Tunbridge Wells MP asked Mr Bell: 'To save his colleagues anguish, will he let us know now when those U-turns are coming?' The minister replied: 'What Labour MPs want to see is a Labour Government bringing down child poverty, and that's what we're going to do 'What Labour MPs want to see is a Government that can take the responsible decisions, including difficult ones on tax and on means testing the winter fuel payment so that we can invest in public services and turn around the disgrace that has become Britain's public realm for far too long.' Conservative former work and pensions secretary Esther McVey had earlier asked whether the Chancellor, 'now that she and the Government have got a taste for climbdowns', would 'reverse the equally ridiculous national insurance contribution (Nic) rises, which is destroying jobs, and the inheritance tax changes, which is destroying farms and family businesses'. Mr Bell said: 'This is a party opposite that has learned no lessons whatsoever, that thinks it can come to this chamber, call for more spending, oppose every tax rise and expect to ever be taken seriously again – they will not.' Labour MP Rebecca Long-Bailey pressed the Government to make changes to the two-child benefit cap, which means most parents cannot claim for more than two children. 'It's the right thing to do to lift pensioners out of poverty, and I'm sure that both he and the Chancellor also agree that it's right to lift children out of poverty,' the Salford MP told the Commons. 'So can he reassure this House that he and the Chancellor are doing all they can to outline plans to lift the two-child cap on universal credit as soon as possible?' Mr Bell replied: 'All levers to reduce child poverty are on the table. 'The child poverty strategy will be published in the autumn.' He added: 'If we look at who is struggling most, having to turn off their heating, it is actually younger families with children that are struggling with that. 'So she's absolutely right to raise this issue, it is one of the core purposes of this Government, we cannot carry on with a situation where large families, huge percentages of them, are in poverty.'
