Stuart Anderson MP has welcomed a government climbdown in its policy on winter fuel payments, after they were abruptly withdrawn last year from eleven million pensioners who were not in receipt of means-tested benefits like Pension Credit.
The tax-free payments of up to £300 had helped millions of vulnerable and elderly people with the costs of heating their homes during the winter months. This included around 25,000 residents from South Shropshire.
The changes reduced this to just 2,229 pensioners in the constituency, who had an active claim for Pension Credit. At the time, Stuart slammed the restriction in eligibility to only those entitled to means-tested benefits.
A survey conducted by Stuart between September 2024 and January 2025 received 136 responses and found that nine in ten people opposed the cuts - with almost two-thirds of respondents having been in receipt of the energy support.
Stuart has relentlessly campaigned against the cuts since they were announced. The Government chose not to put the decision before Parliament.
So, Stuart and his colleagues signed a motion calling for MPs to be given the right to debate the changes. As per convention, the Government conceded to holding a debate last September.
Statistics released by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in February showed that 33,700 claims for Pension Credit were in the queue to be processed, after applications increased by 81% since the cuts were announced.
Stuart then lobbied Ministers to review the eligibility threshold for Pension Credit, after it emerged that approximately 130,000 people will miss out on it as they are just £500 a year over the threshold for qualify.
In a letter to the Prime Minister on 6th January, Stuart said that those who narrowly miss the criteria may end up worse off than some of those who had qualified for the payment.
He added that the Government was risking the physical and financial health of those who are just below the threshold to be eligible.
A response from the Prime Minister's Office dated 24th January stated:
"The Government currently has no plans to extend eligibility for Pension Credit."
Now, the Prime Minister has said:
"We want to ensure that as we go forward, more pensioners are eligible for winter fuel payments."
The climbdown was announced at Prime Minister's Questions on 21st May 2025. However, Stuart has expressed concerns that full details will not come until the Chancellor delivers the Autumn Budget, which last year took place on 31st October.
Since winter fuel payments were made last year in November and December, Stuart has said that this does not leave much time for the changes to take place. So, he has called for details to be confirmed as soon as possible.
Stuart Anderson MP said:
"After months of campaigning, I am glad that the Prime Minister appears to have conceded to the weight of public opinion on this important issue of winter fuel payments. It is the clearest indication yet that the Prime Minister is willing to listen to the concerns of older voters, after more than a hundred residents signed my petition raising concerns about the restrictions in support. After a lifetime of hard work, pensioners should get the dignity and respect in retirement that they fully deserve. Yet, I am worried that details of the changes will not be published until the Autumn Budget. He must take swift action to ensure access is restored before winter arrives."
