Winter Fuel Payment warning: Pensioners face 'widespread suffering' this winter as energy bill support axed

As part of the Winter Fuel Payment, those of state pension age are entitled to up to £300 in energy bill support which has been a vital resource for pensioners amid the cost of living crisis.

Last month, Reeves confirmed the Government's plan to means-test the benefit this winter which means the payment will be reserved for those on low-income who are on benefits, such as Pension Credit.

Earlier this week, the Scottish Government announced that it was following suit with Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville saying the SNP have “no alternative but to replicate the decision”.

This decision comes as Labour have promised to tackle the reported £22billion "black hole" left in the public finances by the last Conservative-led Government with social security being in the firing line.

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With the means-testing of the Winter Fuel Payment and a probable hike in energy prices from October 1, pensioner household will see their energy bills jump by up to 15 per cent in real terms, compared with winter last year.

Charities and campaign groups have written to the Chancellor in a last bid attempt to convince the Government to U-turn on the controversial decision on energy support.

Some 50 organisations have contributed to an open letter addressed to Reeves which reads: "The decision to remove the payment to all but a small minority of pensioners will see millions more older people face the prospect of spending this winter in cold damp homes.

"This has the potential to create a public health emergency. The impact of living in cold damp homes is particularly harsh on those older people with a disability, a long term health condition or with poor mental health."

Among the various groups to contribute to the open letter include the Fuel Poverty Coalition, Fairer Housing, Independent Age, Disability Rights UK and Hackney Foodbank.

Jonathan Bean from Fuel Poverty Action said: "Making heating even more unaffordable for those trying to survive on basic pensions is a cruel and reckless move that will cause widespread suffering and increased NHS admissions this winter."

As part of its efforts to help pensioners, the Government has pledged to launch a new campaign to get more people on Pension Credit, which would lead to people becoming eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment.

Despite this plan, charities are skeptical such initiatives through the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will be successful as the Tories attempted to do the same when they were last in office.

Morgan Vine, the head of Policy and Influencing at Independent Age, added: "It is not an overstatement to warn that, in its current form, this sudden change puts lives at risk.

"Pension Credit has an unacceptably low take-up at just 63 per cent. This means up to a staggering 1.2 million older people who are eligible could be missing out on money they need to turn their heating on."

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“In addition, due to a DWP backlog assessing pension credit claims, award decisions are taking several months to be made," according to Disability Rights UK's welfare rights and officer Ken Butler.

"Because of this, many eligible pensioners could miss out on fuel payments this winter."

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.”