AQW 31562/22-27 Written question to the Minister for Communities
To ask the Minister for Communities, further to the reintroduction of the universal Winter Fuel Payment in 2025-26, to detail (i) whether receipt of the payment will result in higher tax deductions for pensioners with taxable income above £35,000 who did not opt out; (ii) whether the full £200-£300 is recovered with no taper; (iii) whether recovery will be applied through PAYE coding or require Self Assessment; and (iv) the Department’s estimate of the number of Northern Ireland pensioners affected in 2025-26.
Asked by Sian Mulholland MLA on 18 September 2025
- Answered
- Written
- After due date
- Tabled
- 18 September 2025
- Answer due by
- 3 October 2025
- Answered
- 9 October 202521 days after tabling
- Department
- Department for Communities
- Priority question
- No
Answer
Please refer to HMRC for an answer to this question;
Please refer to HMRC for an answer to this question;
Please refer to HMRC for an answer to this question;
Based on NISRA projections, it is estimated that approximately 336,600 pensioners in Northern Ireland will receive the Winter Fuel Payment in 2025/26. Of these, approximately 48,000 – around 14% – will have their payment recovered by HMRC. This compares favourably with England and Wales, where approximately 20% of pensioners will be affected by the payment recovery.