Consultation and changes to the Winter Fuel Payment for pensioners: FOI release

Information requested

1. The "exact" reason for the new changes to the Winter Fuel Payment for pensioners, introduced by the Scottish Executive yesterday;

2. What "consultation" was carried out by Scottish Ministers prior to altering the conditions for Pension Age Winter Heating Payment?

Response

1. The “exact” reason for the new changes to the Winter Fuel Payment for pensions, introduced by the Scottish Executive yesterday.

The UK Government recently announced (on the 29th of July 2024) an intention to move away from a universal Winter Fuel Payment and to restrict entitlement to those in receipt of Pension Credit and other means-tested benefits from this winter. As the Winter Fuel Payment is devolved, this decision would result in a significant reduction in the Block Grant Adjustment (BGA) that the Scottish Government expected to receive to deliver Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, of up to £160 million in 2024-25, or nearly 90% of the BGA previously committed. Despite all efforts to review our financial position we have been left with no choice but to follow the UK Government and restrict payments to older people who receive relevant eligible benefits. The timing of the UK Government announcement has meant it is not practicable to make these changes at this late stage and the launch of Pension Age Winter Heating Payment will therefore be deferred until winter 2025. More information can be found in the Scottish Government press release from the 14th of August (UK Government decision ends universal fuel payments - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)) and in response to a Parliamentary Question asked on the 5th of August to which the Cabinet Secretary provided a response on the 14th of August (Written question and answer: S6W-28925 | Scottish Parliament Website).

2. What “consultation” was carried out by Scottish Ministers prior to altering the conditions for Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.

The Scottish Government was only notified of the Chancellor’s decision on the day of the announcement and there was no prior consultation with the Scottish Government despite officials from both governments working closely on the Social Security Programme together.

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