'Save the Winter Fuel Payment!' Labour urged to reverse plans as millions to lose £300 energy bill support
The energy bill support is being means-tested in a blow to pensioners
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A petition to protect the Winter Fuel Payment from being means-tested is close to reaching its target.
Last month, the new Labour Government's Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed the energy bill benefit will be reserved for those on low income who are claiming benefits.
In response, Age UK launched the "Save the Winter Fuel Payment for struggling pensioners" petition with the goal of reaching 350,000 signatures.
As it stands, the petition has been signed by more than 341,000 people.
Under the Winter Fuel Payment, every pensioner is entitled to up to £300 in energy bill support every winter.
However, with the recently announced changes, pensioners will now need to be in receipt of means-tested benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to claim.
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The cost of living crisis has pushed energy bills to new heights in recent years GETTY Among the qualifying benefits is Pension Credit, which is reserved for those of state pension age who are on low income.
Experts have warned that millions of pensioners are at risk of losing access to the Winter Fuel Payment due to the low uptake of the DWP benefit.
The petition from Age UK states: "Cutting the Winter Fuel Payment this winter, with virtually no notice and no compensatory measures to protect poor and vulnerable pensioners, is the wrong policy decision.
"Millions of struggling pensioners won’t receive up to £300 they rely on to pay their bills. We believe as many as 2 million pensioners who find paying their energy bills a real stretch will be seriously hit by this cut."
The charity noted that pensioners living in Scotland and Wales will not be impacted directly by the latest decision to means-test as benefits are a devolved issue.
Despite this, Age UK cited that the UK Government is likely to no longer give money to cover the cost of the energy bill support in these nations.
Towards the end of the petition, the organisation called on Reeves to "halt" her decision to means-test as soon as possible.
With this latest change, Britons are being urged to check their eligibility for means-tested DWP payment:
Here is a full list of the qualifying DWP benefits to access Winter Fuel Payment:
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income Support.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
New Winter Fuel Payment rules are coming into effect GETTY 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."