State pensioners will see most of their triple lock increase wiped out, pushing thousands past "the point of poverty" campaigners have warned.
The state pension uplift coming in April faces being largely eroded after Labour approved several substantial council tax rises and chose to means-test the winter fuel allowance.
The state pension will increase by £472 a year from April, but pensioners in the hardest-hit areas of the country will see up to 85 per cent of this wiped out.
Thousands of elderly residents face what campaigners are calling a "cruel double whammy" of rising costs and reduced support.
The figures have sparked another controversy over broken promises, as Sir Keir Starmer claimed in September that pensioners would be "better off year-on-year" under Labour.
State pensioners have been warned they will see most of their triple lock increase wiped out
PA/GettyOwners of Band D properties in Bradford face an extra £170 in council tax after the council approved a 9.99 per cent increase, The Telegraph analysis showed. The average winter fuel payment made to Bradford pensioners in 2023/24 was worth £230.
Combined, these changes mean retirees not eligible for pension credit will lose £401 through higher council tax bills and the scrapped winter fuel payment. This leaves Bradford pensioners with just £71 of their original £472 state pension increase.
The triple lock ensures pensions rise annually in line with inflation, wage growth or 2.5 per cent, whichever is highest. This year's 4.1 per cent increase will take the weekly state pension from £221.20 to £230.25 for those on the new state pension.
Birmingham residents will see 78 per cent of their pension increase depleted, with an extra £134 in council tax and a loss of £233 Winter Fuel Allowance.
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In Somerset and Trafford, pensioners will lose 77 per cent and 75.1 per cent of the increase respectively, after both councils were granted permission to raise bills by around 7.5 per cent.
Pensioners in Windsor and Maidenhead will see 74.7 per cent of their uplift disappear, following an 8.99 per cent council tax rise and the loss of an average £235 Winter Fuel Payment.
By contrast, Wandsworth pensioners will fare best, losing just 54.2 per cent of the increase. The London borough maintains the lowest council tax rates in the country.
Councils with adult social care responsibilities are only permitted to raise council tax by up to 4.99 per cent without holding a referendum. For others, the limit is 2.99 per cent.
Six councils in total received Government permission to increase council tax above the standard 4.99 per cent cap for authorities with social care responsibilities. It came despite Labour’s pledge to freeze council tax in the election campaign.
Speaking on the analysis, Dennis Reed, of campaigning body Silver Voices said: "The triple lock increase coming this April did not take into account the loss of the Winter Fuel Payment for the large majority of older people, nor did it anticipate this unprecedented hike in council taxes across the country.
"Older people on fixed incomes are facing a cruel double whammy, squeezing their living standards to the point of poverty. The research nails the lie that older people will be better off under Labour this year."
The findings come after Starmer told interviewers in September that pensioners would see their living standards improve under Labour rule.
The winter fuel benefit of up to £300 will now only be available to those on pension credit with weekly incomes below £218.15 for singles or £332.95 for couples.
Some ten million pensioners lost their Winter Fuel payment
PA/ GettyTory MP Kevin Hollinrake said: "First Labour snatched away the winter fuel allowance and is forcing councils to hike up council tax to pay for Labour's new jobs tax despite Starmer promising 'not a penny more' during the election".
"Labour's views on pensioners have been laid bare in recent months - they'd rather leave them out in the cold so they can sort pay settlements for union barons and hand billions to foreign countries," he added.
A Government spokesman responded: "Millions of pensioners will see their state pension rise by up to £1,900 this parliament through our commitment to the triple lock, and financial support is available to help pensioners on low incomes with council tax bills."
"We have taken a stricter approach to council tax rises than the previous Government, only agreeing to a limited number of increases for those in desperate need," the spokesman added.
