All state pensioners told there will be no bonus payment this year

Millions of pensioners will be much worse off this year

The Government has answered a key question over special payments to pensioners, confirming they will not be given out this year. There have been questions over what were known as 'pensioner cost of living payments'.

These were paid out to around eight million low-income households over the last couple of years to help soften the blow of the cost of living crisis. They were issued alongside the Winter Fuel Payment to all state pensioners, meaning they got between £350 and £600 in total.

However, these pensioner cost of living payments have now been stopped. It will come as a double blow to those pensioners also losing the Winter Fuel Payments this year after the support was made means-tested.

READ MORE: Automatic £300 payments coming for state pensioners in November

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It means many pensioners will be worse off this year. Energy bills also increased at the start of October, putting more strain on households. The Government explained: "If you were born before September 23, 1958 you could get either £200 or £300 to help you pay your heating bills for winter 2024 to 2025. This is known as a Winter Fuel Payment.

"You may be eligible if you or your partner get certain benefits. You will not get the extra Pensioner Cost of Living Payment given in 2022 and 2023. It stopped in winter 2023."

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has faced a major backlash over the decision to scrap Winter Fuel Payments for all but the poorest pensioners. Charities say it will leave around 2.5 million older people who don't qualify struggling to make ends meet.

The loss of the added cost of living support will only add to those challenges.