Changes to the eligibility for Winter Fuel Payments indicate that around 1.5 million individuals over State Pension age will receive a payment of £100, £200 or £300 this year to assist with increased heating costs during the winter months.

The money is just for the holiday kitty,” says Jon Harvey of the £300 he was given every winter to help with heating bills. “I could also use it to go out for a nice meal.” The 80-year-old, like all pensioners in England and Wales,

The governments plan to restrict pensioners winter fuel payment to households getting pension credit has been easily if grudgingly passed by parliament. This was despite a strong case for delaying the move to