Written questions

Winter Fuel Payment

Commons · Question 2070 · Tabled 18 May 2026 · Department for Work and Pensions · Official record

Answered 21 May 2026

Question

Asked by Rachael Maskell

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.

Answer

Answered by Torsten Bell, 21 May 2026

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 ...