Scottish pensioners will receive a minimum winter fuel payment of £100 starting next year, following a partial U-turn by the Scottish National Party (SNP) on earlier plans to cut the benefit.
Shirley Anne Somerville, the SNP’s Social Justice Secretary, announced that the Scottish government would reintroduce a universal winter fuel payment for the 2025-26 winter. Under the new plan, pensioners on Pension Credit will continue to receive higher payments either £200 or £300 depending on their age, while wealthier pensioners will receive £100.
The move comes after the SNP initially followed the UK government’s decision to means-test the winter fuel payment for England and Wales, which led to a £147 million reduction in Scotland’s funding through the Barnett formula. Somerville stressed that the £100 payment would provide support unavailable elsewhere in the UK.
However, opposition parties, including the Scottish Conservatives, criticized the SNP for the initial cut, accusing the government of presenting the reintroduction of the £100 payment as a major victory while failing to restore the full £200 or £300 payment.
This winter, the benefit will only be available to 130,000 Scottish pensioners who qualify for means-tested benefits, a significant drop from 900,000 pensioners who received it last year.
Somerville defended the decision, explaining that the SNP had been under significant financial pressures but was committed to protecting pensioners. She emphasized the importance of providing fair support to pensioners, especially those in receipt of qualifying benefits, while also ensuring universal support for all pensioner households.
Scottish Labour had proposed amendments to reintroduce payments for a broader range of pensioners, which helped accelerate the SNP’s decision to move forward with the announcement.
Despite the policy shift, the Scottish Conservatives criticized the move, with Liz Smith, the party’s shadow social security secretary, accusing the SNP of political spin and failing to deliver adequate support this winter. Smith argued that the SNP was attempting to mislead pensioners by presenting a partial payment as a full restoration of benefits.
As Scotland faces ongoing financial challenges, the decision has sparked heated debate over the government’s commitment to supporting its older population in a time of economic strain.
