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The Labour Party is considering a significant policy shift that could see the Winter Fuel Payment extended to three additional Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits, potentially

reinstating the £300 payment for state pensioners on various benefits. Eligible individuals over State Pension age with illnesses or disabilities could receive a range of benefits, including

Attendance Allowance (including Constant Allowance), Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, and Housing Benefit. The Institute for Fiscal Studies has suggested that these beneficiaries

should receive the £300 payments from a Labour government following a reversal in policy regarding the allowances, reports Birmingham Live. The IFS's proposal includes: "Make those

receiving other means-tested benefits also entitled to WFP. Rather than restricting WFP to only those that get PC, the government could extend eligibility to pensioners that receive housing

benefit or council tax support – both of which are means-tested benefits and hence go to low-income households." It further suggests: "Tying WFP to housing benefit would extend

eligibility to 430,000 renting households (owner-occupiers are ineligible for housing benefit) at a cost of around £100 million a year. The latter could be administratively difficult as

council tax support is administered by local councils." The report suggests: "Make those receiving disability benefits also entitled to WFP. Paying WFP to those pensioners not on

PC who are in receipt of disability benefits would extend eligibility to 1.8 million households in England and Wales at a cost of roughly £500 million a year; it would be somewhat more

complicated in Scotland where disability benefits are devolved." The report notes, however, that this would not specifically target low-income households. Meanwhile, a pensioner

expressed his frustration in a letter to the Guardian, stating that any U-turn would be "too late". Ian from Staffordshire wrote: "To U-turn any policy without some

acknowledgment of it being a dreadful mistake will probably lead to even more anger and deeper distrust. We are not only losing voters but party activists as well. Members are resigning

because of their disagreement with government policies on a range of issues. "We need more than a U-turn. Instead, a complete reset is required, but I'm not holding my breath. I

doubt that the current leadership is capable of doing anything without being forced into it and, if they do, that will enable the cheerleaders for Reform to make cynical political capital of

the situation we find ourselves in."