Will the Cabinet Secretary ask the Older People's Commissioner for Wales to undertake an impact assessment for older people in Wales of the UK Government's announcement on 9 June that people over state pension age with an income of or below £35,000 a year will receive a winter fuel payment?
Both the Older People’s Commissioner and I have welcomed the UK Government’s announcement on the expansion of eligibility to Winter Fuel Payment this Winter.
DWP estimates that approximately 9 million pensioners will receive Winter Fuel Payment during Winter 25/26 in England and Wales. This equates to three quarters of pensioners in England and Wales.
Any further analysis of the impact of the changes to eligibility in Wales would be a matter for the DWP as welfare policy is a reserved matter.