Stormont to make decision on winter fuel payments

The winter fuel payment is a benefit paid to pensioners, designed to help them afford the higher energy bills that come with keeping a home warm during the winter.

It is between £100 and £300, depending on the age of the recipient and whether or not they live alone.

The Chancellor says those who are not in receipt of pension credit or other means-tested benefits will no longer receive the payment.

Pension credit is a benefit paid to people on low incomes who are above state pension age.

Social security is almost entirely devolved to Stormont, though in practice Northern Ireland normally maintains parity with the rest of the UK.

That is because pensions and benefits are paid directly by the UK government, but if Stormont wanted to have a more generous system, it would have to find the money from the budget for other public services.

After the major welfare changes introduced by the Conservative/ Lib Dem coalition Stormont chose to pay for some mitigating measures.