Rachel Reeves’ new plan for winter fuel allowance branded tax ‘nightmare’

• Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to reinstate universal winter fuel payments for pensioners, reversing a previous policy change.
• The government plans to recover the grant from higher-income pensioners through increased taxes, potentially affecting those with household disposable incomes above £37,000, according to The Times.
• The policy change could cost around £700 million, with the full plan to be detailed in the autumn Budget.
• Silver Voices criticised the plan as an "administrative nightmare" that could draw more pensioners into the tax system.
• The announcement follows statements from pensions minister Torsten Bell indicating the allowance would not be restored universally, and Keir Starmer's stated intention to expand access to winter fuel payments.

IN FULL

Forcing rich pensioners to pay back winter fuel allowance would be tax ‘nightmare’, Reeves warned