Winter Fuel Payment restored

Our local charity's response | The Government has announced that the Winter Fuel Payment will be will be restored to all people over State Pension age with an income of £35,000 per year or less for the winter of 2025/2.

We look at local needs and how this announcement can provide vital benefit to local residents here in York.

Age UK York are both pleased, and relieved, at the Government’s announcement on 9 June to restore the Winter Fuel Payment to 9 million pensioners - all but those on the highest incomes.

As Age UK York we are a local and independent charity focussed on York and local people providing services to offer support each and every day. As such we see the daily challenges faced by too many older people including poverty.

Whilst an independent charity we are also a member of the national Age UK network and worked with them to campaign for the Winter Fuel Payment to be restored and sadly having to showcase the impact on the over 2.5 million people across the country including here in York. The decision is the right thing to do and something that will bring some much-needed reassurance for older people and their families.

At Age UK York we come across so many stories both through the winter, and ineed continuing, of older people so frightened about their bills that they didn't even try to keep their homes adequately warm. Our efforts to influence the change saw a survey of pensioners and that in early 2025 34% of pensioners felt less financially secure than a year ago and over 450,000 in our region having chosen to cut back on heating or powering their home given their concerns.

Our continuing support and commitment to local people here in York

Alongside our campaign our focus in York has been how we can practically support local people and reduce the impact of the original decision to remove the Winter Fuel Payment. Happily we were anything but alone on this and worked with other fantastic local partners on promoting pension credit and enabling more older people who were eligible, but not yet receiving it, to be registered and benefit from this vital payment. Here in York, alongside City of York Council, Citizen’s Advice York and OCAY we together identified and directly supported those not receiving pension credit. As a result 231 - and counting – local people in York are now receiving Pension Credit and are £7,000 a year better off. You can read more about our partnership efforts online here 

Thank you to all involved in making this possible with support at a vital time and making a crucial difference not only financially, but to their independence and wellbeing. Age UK York’s local team continues to be here to support Whilst we welcome the announcement we recognise that the payment in it self does not address the continuing challenge of rising prices and the “scourge of fuel poverty”.

As Age UK York we provides a dedicated York based Information and Advice service with our expert team providing a huge range of support including on money and benefits in support of older local residents. As well as vital funding from City of York Council our charity also funds half of our team given the scale of need and the difference we continue to make to those reaching out each day – both older people and those around them looking to care for a loved one, a neighbour, a friend. This is only possible thanks to the generosity of our supporters entrusted us with kind donations and to our team of staff and volunteers for being there when needed.

How to get in touch with our Age UK York team?

You can reach us online, by email or phone:

Please visit us online at www.ageukyork.org.uk or click here

Telephone: 01904 634061

Email: firstcall@ageukyork.org.uk