Winter Fuel Payments made available to everyone who needs it

Most Brits would like to see Winter Fuel Payments made available to everyone who needs it – regardless of their age, a study found. Researchers who polled 2,000 UK adults found two thirds think the scheme should be expanded to support anyone who is currently living in hardship. And 59 per cent of existing beneficiaries think it should too - while 34 per cent admit they don’t really need the allowance. Of these, a quarter say they don’t use the funds to keep their house warm – instead using it to buy gifts, groceries and to help pay for Christmas.