National Energy Action has welcomed the Winter Fuel Payment, which was announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
Everyone over the state pension age in England and Wales with an income of, or below, £35,000 a year, will now receive the Winter Fuel Payment. The government said this means 9 million pension-age households will now receive the benefit.
Matt Copeland, National Energy Action’s head of policy and public affairs, said: “We welcome this new clarity and certainty concerning the Winter Fuel Payment, and it is a relief that it will now go to so many more pension-age households who really need it.
“We mustn’t forget about low-income working-age households, many of whom are struggling to afford their energy bills – they also need more direct energy bill support.
“The Spending Review can provide this deeper support to directly reduce bills as well as a much more structural solution to fuel poverty by making our homes far more energy efficient.”