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| Winter fuel payments: NI pensioners could have payments restored | Winter fuel payments: NI pensioners could have payments restored |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The announcement means the majority of pensioners will get the payment of £200, with £300 to go to those over 80. | The announcement means the majority of pensioners will get the payment of £200, with £300 to go to those over 80. |
| Tens of thousands of pensioners in Northern Ireland could be in line to have their winter fuel payments restored after a government U-turn. | Tens of thousands of pensioners in Northern Ireland could be in line to have their winter fuel payments restored after a government U-turn. |
| The payment to about 250,000 pensioners in Northern Ireland was cut last year in a cost-saving measure by the new Labour government. | The payment to about 250,000 pensioners in Northern Ireland was cut last year in a cost-saving measure by the new Labour government. |
| But the government has now set a new threshold for payments. | But the government has now set a new threshold for payments. |
| This means the majority of pensioners will get the payment of £200, for those under 80, and £300 for those over 80. | This means the majority of pensioners will get the payment of £200, for those under 80, and £300 for those over 80. |
| However Communities Minister Gordon Lyons said that "much more clarity is needed" on how pensioners affected by previous winter fuel payment cuts will have the benefit reinstated. | |
| The minister said his officials were holding discussions with the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department of Finance on Monday afternoon about the issue. | |
| Lyons says "much more clarity is needed" | |
| The money will be paid for the incoming winter. | The money will be paid for the incoming winter. |
| But those pensioners earning more than £35,000 will not qualify for the payment. | But those pensioners earning more than £35,000 will not qualify for the payment. |
| Many pensioners in Northern Ireland missed out on the winter fuel payment last year after Northern Ireland followed a Westminster decision to make the payments means tested. | Many pensioners in Northern Ireland missed out on the winter fuel payment last year after Northern Ireland followed a Westminster decision to make the payments means tested. |
| The move, announced shortly after Labour took office last July, led to fierce criticism from unions and pensioner charities. | The move, announced shortly after Labour took office last July, led to fierce criticism from unions and pensioner charities. |
| An extra £17m was found following a Stormont monitoring round and Lyons secured money to grant a £100 one-off payment to support pensioners who were affected by cuts to winter fuel support. | |
| What are Winter Fuel Payments? | What are Winter Fuel Payments? |
| Winter Fuel Payments were created in 1997 to help everyone above state pension age with their winter heating bills. | Winter Fuel Payments were created in 1997 to help everyone above state pension age with their winter heating bills. |
| The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, announced last year that winter 2024 would be the first time pensioners in England and Wales would not be eligible for the payment. | The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, announced last year that winter 2024 would be the first time pensioners in England and Wales would not be eligible for the payment. |
| Northern Ireland was forced to follow suit. | Northern Ireland was forced to follow suit. |
| Payments were then restricted to those on benefits and pension credit. | Payments were then restricted to those on benefits and pension credit. |