EQIA on the Winter Fuel Payment Scheme

Overview

To comply with the Department for Communities' Equality Scheme and to fulfil its statutory duties under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, the Department is conducting an Equality Impact Assessment on the changes to the Winter Fuel Scheme. 

The Northern Ireland Executive announced on 30 August 2024 that Northern Ireland would be maintaining parity with England and Wales and would be restricting the Winter Fuel Payment in Northern Ireland to pensioners receiving Pension Credit or other means tested benefits.

The draft EQIA relates 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, and
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.