New Benefit Rules Explained: Are You Losing Out On £300 This Winter?

The UK benefit landscape has shifted significantly following the latest budget, and every retiree needs to know if they have come out on top or if they are facing a shortfall. In this video, I break down the "Winners and Losers" of the 2025/26 changes, from the 4.1% State Pension uplift to the controversial means-testing of the Winter Fuel Payment.

I explain the "Stealth Tax" trap created by the frozen £12,570 personal allowance and why your pension increase might actually push you into a higher tax bracket. Drawing on my 25 years of experience at PwC, EY, and KPMG, I provide a clear action plan on how to use Pension Credit as a gateway to protect your income and reclaim lost benefits.

In this video, we cover:
The 4.1% Triple Lock: What the new weekly and annual rates look like for you.
Winter Fuel Payments: The new eligibility rules and who is officially losing out.
The Pension Credit Gateway: Why claiming even £1 can unlock thousands in support.
The Stealth Tax: How frozen thresholds are eating into your pension gains.
Winners vs. Losers: A final checklist to see where your household stands.

TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - Benefit Changes 2025: Are You a Winner or Loser?
1:15 - The State Pension Increase (The 4.1% Breakdown)
3:30 - The Winter Fuel Payment Crisis: Who loses the £300?
5:45 - The "Stealth Tax" Trap: Why the £12,570 limit matters
8:10 - Pension Credit: The vital key to unlocking 2025 support
10:30 - Carer’s Allowance and Disability Benefit updates
12:15 - My Expert Verdict: How to protect your income this year

ABOUT ME:
My name is Saq Hussain and I run FinancialEducation.co.uk. I have over 25 years of experience helping individuals and organisations manage money and plan for retirement. My professional background includes:
Former Director and UK Head of DC Pensions, Benefits & Wellbeing at PwC.
Strategic Advisor on DC Pensions to EY (Ernst & Young).
Former DC (defined contribution) pensions and benefits consultant at KPMG.
Member of the Living Wage Foundation steering group (developed the National Living Pension standard).

RESOURCES & CONNECT:
🌐 Website: https://financialeducation.co.uk/abou...
💼 LinkedIn:   / saq-hussain  

#UKBenefits #StatePension2025 #WinterFuelPayment #PensionCredit #UKTax #FinancialEducation #SaqHussain