One third of the British public believe that winter fuel payments should be restored to all pensioners, according to a new YouGov poll, as pressure mounts on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to reverse his party’s controversial decision to restrict the benefit.
The winter fuel payment – worth up to £300 – was previously available to all pensioners but became means-tested under a policy introduced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves shortly after Labour’s landslide election victory last year. The move was one of the first major fiscal reforms by the new government and has been widely cited as a key reason for the party’s decline in public support in recent months.
Sir Keir signalled a possible change in direction earlier this week, saying he was keen to explore widening eligibility. “We want to make sure the system is fair but also recognises the cost of living challenges facing older people,” he told journalists. However, No.10 has yet to confirm how many additional pensioners might benefit or whether the policy will be altered in time for the 2025/26 winter.
According to the YouGov poll conducted on Thursday, 33% of respondents support a full return to the universal benefit system. A further 44% said the payments should remain means-tested but with eligibility extended to cover more pensioners than currently allowed. Only 7% supported keeping the policy exactly as it is, with the rest undecided or expressing no opinion.
The Prime Minister’s apparent softening of stance comes ahead of a key summit with devolved leaders, where the issue is expected to dominate discussions. Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney has publicly backed reinstating the winter fuel payment for all pensioners and was expected to press the case in bilateral talks with Starmer on Friday.
Welsh Labour leader Baroness Eluned Morgan has also added to the pressure, calling for the majority of pensioners to receive the benefit. Speaking on the BBC’s Political Thinking podcast, Baroness Morgan said she would support a system that removed the payment only from higher-rate taxpayers. “That’s probably where I’d be,” she said. “Most pensioners have paid in all their lives and deserve to be treated with dignity, particularly in the colder months.”
The winter fuel allowance has long been a politically sensitive issue. While universal provision was previously criticised for offering support to wealthy pensioners who didn’t need it, its withdrawal has led to fears that some vulnerable older people may fall through the cracks.
Charities including Age UK and the National Pensioners Convention have warned that means-testing can deter eligible pensioners from applying due to confusion, stigma or lack of awareness. Caroline Abrahams, director of Age UK, said: “We hear every winter from older people who are genuinely afraid to turn the heating on. Any decision to restrict support needs to consider the real-life consequences for those just above the eligibility line.”
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Opposition parties have seized on the confusion. Conservative work and pensions spokesperson, Tim Loughton MP, accused Labour of making policy “on the hoof” and undermining trust in long-standing support mechanisms. “The fact they are now considering a U-turn shows how ill-thought-out the original decision was,” he said.
In response, Treasury officials insist the reforms were introduced to better target limited resources and ensure support goes to those who need it most. But with winter approaching and the government facing mounting criticism from within its own ranks, it appears ministers may be preparing to row back on one of their earliest and most contentious decisions.
Sir Keir Starmer is expected to set out more details before the summer recess. Until then, many pensioners across the UK remain uncertain whether they will be able to rely on the winter fuel payment to help with soaring energy bills next season.
