Pensioners are speaking out about how are “dreading this winter” following Labour’s decision to effectively axe the Winter Fuel Payment for millions of older households.
Over the summer, Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed that the Winter Fuel Payment, which offers up to £300 in energy bill support, will now be reserved for those in receipt of Pension Credit and other means-tested benefits.
Speaking to Age UK, Melvyn, 81, shared: “We struggled last year when we had a Winter Fuel Payment, so this year is going to be harder still. We try and only use one hour of heating a day.”
Sheila, 80, added: “I recently finished 16 months of cancer treatment which left me with peripheral neuropathy, so I feel the cold very badly.
“I am also partially sighted so can’t drive and stuck in the house most of the time. Last winter I was paying nearly £300 per month so I am dreading this winter.”
“I will have to stay in bed longer and only get up to eat,” John, 87, said.
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Pensioners are speaking out about the cut to Winter Fuel Payments
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New research conducted by AgeUK has found that 77 per cent of Britons age 66 or over – the equivalent to 9.2 million people – spent their Winter Fuel Allowance on fuel related costs.
Said costs include heating their homes, getting hot water and running household appliances during 2023.
The charity’s polling found that a 25 per cent of pensioners spent their Winter Fuel Payment on heating their home and 24 per cent used the benefit to pay for cooking meals.
One in five financially disadvantaged pensioners relied on the allowance to run appliances, such as a washing machine.
Age UK is urging older Britons on low income to check their eligibility for Pension Credit to make sure they are able to claim a Winter Fuel Payment this year.
British pensioners have until December 21 to apply online, or December 20 to apply by phone, to put forward a claim for the benefit.
These are the cut-off dates for qualifying for this year’s Winter Fuel allowance.
Analysts are reminding applicants to make sure their claim is backdated for three months as this is not done automatically by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Britons are preparing for energy bills to come up during water
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Caroline Abrahams CBE, the charity director at Age UK, said: “It’s no surprise to us at Age UK, and it really shouldn’t be to anyone else either, that the great majority of older people spent their Winter Fuel Payment on energy related costs last year.
“With fuel prices having gone up so much compared to five or 10 years ago, even older people who expected to be relatively comfortable in retirement have been impacted and forced to tighten their belts. And for those without much money behind them, energy bills have become a source of real fear.
“Knowing they were going to receive their Winter Fuel Payment took some of the anxiety of unaffordable fuel bills away and this universal entitlement was highly valued by pensioners as a result.
“It’s quite clear from our survey results that without it this year, really significant numbers of older people will be showering or bathing less, turning their heating down or off altogether, and in some cases eating fewer hot meals.”
