Tax support on winter fuel has been eliminated, yet the Household Support Fund still stands.
The Household Support Fund, initially introduced in 2021, is still running and has been extended until the end of March 2025 in England. This government initiative, managed by councils, aims to help vulnerable households afford their essential costs, such as food, energy, and water bills. The overall worth of the Household Support Fund in England is £421m, and it is not specific to a particular region in England [1].
In addition, the government has announced plans for the Winter Fuel Payment for 2025/26 in England and Wales. Eligible households, those with someone over state pension age, will receive payments ranging from £200 to £300 between November and December 2025. To be eligible, individuals must be born on or before 21 September 1959 and must be living in England or Wales during the qualifying week (15-21 September 2025) [2].
Most eligible pensioners will receive the payment automatically, accompanied by a letter from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in October or November 2025. However, there is an income-related recovery mechanism: pensioners with total income over £35,000 will have their Winter Fuel Payment recovered in full through the tax system [3].
Regarding the Household Support Fund, while there are no explicit updated details on its use for 2025/26, it generally aims to help struggling households with essential costs. It is important to note that the scheme does not have a restriction on the number of times a household can receive support.
Labour plans to extend the Household Support Fund to help ease cost-of-living pressures over the winter. Pensioners and others struggling with the cost-of-living over the colder months are advised to contact their local council for potential support [4].
References:
[1] GOV.UK. (2023). Household Support Fund. Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/household-support-fund
[2] GOV.UK. (2023). Winter Fuel Payment 2025 to 2026. Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/overview
[3] GOV.UK. (2023). Income and savings. Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/income-and-savings
[4] BBC News. (2023). Labour plans to extend Household Support Fund. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-65096862
- Engaging in policy-and-legislation discussions, one can observe that the government's Household Support Fund, initially introduced in 2021, continues to operate until March 2025, aimed at supporting vulnerable households with essential costs, falling under the umbrella of general-news.
- As part of the political landscape, Labour has expressed plans to extend the Household Support Fund to alleviate cost-of-living pressures during winter, emphasizing its relevance to both pensioners and other struggling households, making it a prominent topic in the realm of policy-and-legislation and general-news.
