Winter Fuel Payment

[upinaballoon]

The regular amount of WFP for someone under 80, was, I believe, £200.

However, that £200 was increased by the Tory government in the winters of 2022/3 and 2023/4. Can anyone tell me what reasons were given for those increases? I know some of you will say it was to curry favour with pensioners and no doubt that was indeed part of it, but what reason was given?

I think it was an extra amount to help with the cost of living.

Have just looked it up. In 2022/23 the Government gave an additional £650 cost of living allowance made in two payments to households on certain benefits. Disabled people got an extra £150, pensioners received an additional £300 and every household received an extra £400 to help with fuel bills. So it wasn't just pensioners who received extra money.

Wasn't it to do with Ukraine and the spike in prices at the time?

If it was increased in the years suggested the surely it was due to the spike in price of fuel after Ukraine was invaded.

Thank you.
I remember the £400 which was spaced out over 6 winter months and I can remember £150 one time, that seemed to be applied to Council Tax, at least it was in my case, but I had forgotten that my WFP was higher for two winters.
I was sorting papers yesterday and I found my record of my WFP incomes. In this last winter of 24/25 I have been thinking that my income was £200 less, because I am not on Pension Credit, but looking at the record, I realised that for two winters I'd received more than £200, and it wasn't anything to do with being 80, because I'm not 80 yet.

So, general help because prices had gone up, but not only for pensioners, for others, too. Thank you, all.

Oh, the current rules are going to change.