State pensioners having Winter Fuel Payments cut from £300 to £100

State pensioners in Northern Ireland are set to receive a one-off £100 payment to help with heating bills after the Winter Fuel Payment was cut for millions. Pensioners in Northern Ireland affected by cuts to the winter fuel payment will be receiving a one-off payment of £100.

Speaking in the Assembly today, the communities minister announced that £17 million had been found in Stormont's latest monitoring round which would allow him to help affected households. In July, Labour Party Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves announced the entitlement to winter fuel payments - which are worth £300 or £200 - in England and Wales would be restricted to those people receiving Pension Credit or other means-tested benefits only.

Communities minister Gordon Lyons said that the cuts would also apply to NI as the Executive had “no additional resource” to diverge from the UK decision. In a statement the minister said he “strongly disagreed” with the decision, but that the Executive did not have the required resources to mitigate against it.

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“The decision by the Labour Government to remove the winter fuel payment from pensioners who are not in receipt of pension credit or other benefits has left many of our people feeling anxious about how they will manage energy bills this winter,” he said. He said: “I can confirm a one-off winter fuel payment of £100 will be paid to all pensioner households affected by the Labour Government’s decision.

"I believe this initiative reflects my commitment to fairness, compassion, and responsibility towards our older population. My officials are now working at pace to prepare and bring forward the necessary legislation and to finalise arrangements. This payment will be made available to all pensioner households who have had their winter fuel payments removed.

“There will be no application process as we will automatically identify eligible individuals through existing records. This approach will ensure a smooth and efficient distribution of payments without the additional burden of application forms or red tape. The payment will be made before the end of March 2025, however I am working closely with officials to deliver this as soon as possible."