The winter fuel payment U-turn in numbers

The UK government has backtracked on its decision to cut winter fuel payments for pensioners, now extending the benefit to all pensioners from 2025-26. The initial reform aimed to save £1.4 billion in 2024-25. However, the latest changes are estimated to cost the government £1.25 billion, with concerns over the impact on public finances. The reversal follows criticism, but questions remain on how the government will address the financial gap created by the U-turn in the upcoming budget.