'We will not be able to afford to keep warm!' Pensioners speak out as £300 Winter Fuel Payment means-tested

Charity Age UK is taking action and has launched a new national campaign to save ensure the Winter Fuel Payment remains universal.

As part of this initiative, the organisation has launched a petition calling on the British public to "save" the benefit for "struggling pensioners".

So far, more than 431,000 signatories have included their names as part of the petition.

However, this falls short of Age UK's total 450,000 goal.

Do you have a money story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing money@gbnews.uk.

According to the charity, the following demographics in England and Wales are most at risk of losing out financially as a result of the benefit's means-testing:

• Britons on low incomes who just miss out on Pension Credit,
• Britons with high energy needs because of disability or illness,
• Some one million people who do not claim Pension Credit despite being eligible.

Furthermore, Age UK share testimonies of individuals who are voicing their concerns about no longer being in receipt of the Winter Fuel Allowance.

Trudy, 67, said: "We will find it very difficult to cope without our Winter Fuel Payment this year.

"My husband, who is 74, has thyroid problems caused by radiotherapy treatment for head and neck Cancer and the main symptom for him is that he is extremely cold all the time.

"Even at the beginning of July, he was still using an electric blanket at night to keep warm, so when the weather gets colder later this year, I'm worried we will not be able to afford to keep him warm."

Alexander, 80, added: "We cannot afford to keep the heating on now never mind without the Winter Fuel Payment it will be impossible to heat our home.

"With a serious heart complaint and diabetes, this could possibly kill us at our age."

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:

• State pension age could be raised to 71 by Labour: 'Needs to be dealt with!'
• State pension alert: HMRC to write off 'tiny amounts of tax' as older Britons risk losing payments
• Britons urged to rely to DWP letter or risk missing out on 'pensions goldmine'

"It will be difficult, as my husband is in heart failure. We have to run our heating whether we can afford to or not," Shirley, 76, explained.

"It’s an enormous blow we cannot get pension credit as my husband receives a small pension of £198 per month."

A Government spokesperson said: "This Government is committed to pensioners: protecting the triple lock, keeping energy bills low through our Warm Homes Plan, and cutting NHS waiting lists – bringing real stability to people’s lives.

"We said we would be honest with the public and, given the dire state of the public finances we have inherited, this Government must take difficult decisions to fix the foundations of the economy.

"In these circumstances, it is right that Winter Fuel Payments are targeted at those in most need, and we will work with Local Authorities to boost the uptake of Pension Credit, reaching the many pensioners who could still benefit from this year’s Winter Fuel Payments."