Andy Burnham £300 bonus payments instantly cut to £100 for these households

Andy Burnham will reinstate Winter Fuel Payments for state pensioners when he becomes Prime Minister on Monday, succeeding Sir Keir Starmer. However, the Department for Work and Pensions scheme includes significant reductions for households where eligible pensioners live together.

State pensioners born before 1946 will receive £300, while those born after 1946 will receive £200 coming this autumn and winter. But these payments are substantially cut for shared households without certain benefits including Pension Credit or income-related Employment and Support Allowance.

If both residents in a household are born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960 and do not receive those benefits, both will receive only £100. A pensioner born between 28 September 1946 and 27 June 1960 living with someone born before 28 September 1946 will also receive £100. Those born before 28 September 1946 paired with someone from that younger cohort receive £200, while two older pensioners living together receive £150 each.

The Winter Fuel Payment scheme applies to those born on or before 27 June 1960 who reside in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. Those ineligible include those living outside these regions, those hospitalised during the week of 21 to 27 September 2026, and those unable to claim public funds under their immigration status.

Mr Burnham has prioritised addressing the cost of living crisis. His policy adviser Miatta Fahnbulleh told the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg that everyone recognises people are under pressure and living standards have not risen. She said the government must deal with the cost of living in the short term to give people some respite.

The Winter Fuel Payment is described as a key part of the DWP's attempts to shore up pensioner finances and keep them safe, warm and healthy over colder months.