Closed consultation Consultation on policy changes to the Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Scheme

Summary

The Department is seeking views on recent policy changes to the Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Scheme.

Documents

• Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Scheme Policy Changes - Draft Equality Impact Assessment Adobe PDF (434 KB)

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Consultation description

This consultation and draft report relate to policy changes to the Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Scheme, to limit the annual Winter Fuel Payment in Northern Ireland to pensioners in receipt of Pension Credit or other means tested benefits. We would welcome any comments which you may have in terms of this EQIA and our preliminary recommendations with regards to measures to mitigate the adverse impacts.

The closing date for this consultation is 11.59pm, 2 March 2025.

A final report on the EQIA was published in November 2025.

• The Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Scheme Policy Changes EQIA Final Report

Ways to respond

Consultation closed — responses are no longer being accepted.