Chancellor must reverse Winter Fuel Payment cuts for ALL – with no unfair tax clawback
- National Pensioners Convention
- 23 minutes ago
- 2 min read
National Pensioners Convention and Unite retired members are going to Downing Street to demand Chancellor Rachel Reeves ‘comes clean’ on plans to restore the Winter Fuel Payment next week.
We will demonstrate near the Chancellor’s official residence on Monday 9th June to demand that she uses Wednesday’s Spending Review to reveal full details of the government U-turn on their Winter Fuel Payment cuts.
NPC & Unite Downing Street protest – 11am Monday 9th June
Since the Prime Minister first announced a rethink on the cruel cuts, the Chancellor has been dropping hints on what she is planning. But we still don’t know the details, or who exactly will qualify for the reinstated payments, or when.
Her latest statement this week suggested the universal benefit will be restored to all older people, before the government recoups the money from high-income pensioners when they fill in their tax returns. But this option could still hit many hard, including the families of tens of thousands of deceased pensioners who would be pursued by tax officials to recoup the payments under the new system.
Jan Shortt, NPC General Secretary said: “It is time the Chancellor comes clean on her plans. That’s why NPC members will join Monday’s protest to make it clear that only a full reinstatement of the Winter Fuel Payment is fair and acceptable.
“Tinkering with another form of government means-test via taxation sounds like a recipe for disaster. We need to know the details now and not next autumn, when the energy bills start rolling in.”
Jan Shortt welcomes the government’s decision to rethink the cuts after months of campaigning by NPC for reinstatement of the universal allowance. The loss of between £200 and £300 of assistance with energy bills last winter caused untold harm for millions of older people. We want clarity now, not next Autumn.
NPC AND Unite will be meeting to make our voices heard at 11am on Monday, 9th June 2025.
ENDS
Download the statement
