Are lump sum payments, such as the Winter Fuel Payment, an appropriate way of addressing pensioner poverty?
50. Winter fuel payments play an important role for current pensioners, and their non-means tested nature increases claim rates, as there is no associated stigma in claiming. Whilst we welcome any assistance to help support pensioners such measures do not work to address the underlying issues of pensioner poverty as a holistic issue, and their non-targeted nature means many are in receipt of this benefit when they do not require additional support. 51. Whilst we welcome the packages of support and the focus on energy efficiency measures these may not be appropriate for every household, for example those living in older housing stock without cavity walls to insulate, or those living in rented accommodation. 52. It is worth noting that fuel poverty may extend further up the income distribution than other measures of poverty because of the additional costs of heating larger properties, for example where a single older person wishes to remain in the family home, or when additional heating
