Winter fuel payments to pensioners rose to 11.6 million last year, new figures show as the Government continues to face a backlash over its plan to cut back the benefit.The number of people who received the payment last winter was 214,000 more than the 11.4 million in 2022-23, and it has steadily risen from 11.1 million in 2020-21, statistics released by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show.The annual tax-free payment of between £100 and £300 was introduced in 1997 to help eligible pe

Winter fuel payments to pensioners rose to 11.6 million last year, new figures show as the Government continues to face a backlash over its plan to cut back the benefit.The number of people who received the payment last winter was 214,000 more than the 11.4 million in 2022-23, and it has steadily risen from 11.1 million in 2020-21, statistics released by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show.The annual tax-free payment of between £100 and £300 was introduced in 1997 to help eligible pensioners meet the costs of heating their homes in winter.The Government is facing opposition to its decision to means-test the payment, stripping it from millions of pensioners.