PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Winter Fuel Payment: Disability (9 September 2024)

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to help mitigate the potential impact of the withdrawal of Winter Fuel Payments on disabled non-Pension Credit recipient pensioners.

Asked by:
Dr Marie Tidball (Labour)

Disability benefits provide a tax free, non-income-related contribution towards the extra costs people with a long-term health condition or disabilities can face, such as additional heating costs.

Attendance Allowance can be worth up to £5,600 a year. Entitlement to Attendance Allowance is based on the on-going need for frequent personal care and attention, or supervision to ensure personal safety, rather than on the individual’s medical condition. It is paid out of general taxation and is a tax-free, non-contributory, and non-means-tested benefit so is not affected by other income or savings.

Pensioners in receipt of Attendance Allowance and on a low-income may qualify for Pension Credit including an additional amount for disability providing they meet the other eligibility criteria.

Answered by:
Emma Reynolds (Labour)
16 September 2024