Winter fuel warning: Labour to ‘leave 750k pensioners to in the cold’ as deadline arrives | Politics | News
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves (Image: GETTY)
Hundreds of thousands of pensioners are at risk of being “left in the cold” as the winter fuel payments deadline looms, the Tories have warned.
Older people have until next Saturday to apply for pension credit in order to receive this year’s winter fuel allowance.
But shadow work and pensions secretary Helen Whately fears around three quarters of a million OAPs will miss out because they are eligible for pension credit but do not claim it.
She said: “Labour’s pension credit deadline is about to slam shut with 750,000 pensioners left in the cold.”
The Daily Express joined the Conservative MP on Friday during a visit to community hub Fusion in her Kent constituency as it hosted its weekly free lunch for those in need.
Tory work and pensions secretary Helen Whately visits the Fusion community hub (Image: Humphrey Nemar)
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pension credit in order to get the winter fuel allowance.
“I would encourage anybody who thinks they might be eligible to get their application in.
“But I’m really worried with just a week to go there are going to be that number of people who won’t have managed to get their application in and that means they’re going to miss out on the winter fuel allowance they so badly need.
“I’m really concerned about how it’s going to affect people, making those really difficult choices whether they can afford to eat or heat.”
The Government has faced an ongoing backlash for restricting previously universal winter fuel payments of up to £300 to only those on pension credit.
Ms Whatley urged Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to “think again” on the controversial measure.
The Faversham and Mid Kent MP added: “One of the things I’ve heard from people I’ve spoken to here is they feel they’re not being listened to. Some of them feel this is a deliberate attack on them as pensioners too.”
Fusion CEO Sue Maidens said there was confusion around the policy from some elderly people, while others are too proud to apply for pension credit or struggle with completing the form.
She said there has been an “uptake” in demand for the community centre’s services in the wake of the cuts.
The charity – based in the deprived Park Wood estate in Maidstone – provides exercise sessions, social and coffee groups, health services such as eye screening and foot clinics, slow cooking classes and a weekly free lunch.
Ms Maidens said: “I hear snippets of conversations and it’s all around that I only put my heating on for an hour because I can’t afford to run it any further.
“These people have paid into the system all their life, they’re of that really hard-working generation, they did all the right things, they followed all the rules.
“And now they’re just being penalised at a point where they’re really vulnerable, they’re older, they need to be kept warm, they need to be fed, they’re not as resilient, they’re the most vulnerable in our society. I would say to the Government do a U-turn.”
Pensioners having a free lunch at the Fusion community hub last Friday said they would be forced to cut back on heating after losing the winter fuel allowance.
Margaret Crotty, 77, from Maidstone, who suffers from arthritis, will no longer receive the payment as she is over the pension credit threshold.
The retired nurse said: “I was very disappointed with the winter fuel allowance because you always knew you had that extra in December and you didn’t have to think about the heating but I’ve had to turn it down now.
“I have severe arthritis in my hands so somebody like me does need heat.
“And I still half expect them to take our bus pass. I would never vote Labour.”
Felicity Mowatt, from Maidstone, who has been attending Fusion for about two years, said she is “slightly” over the cut-off for pension credit and that the winter fuel payment would have been “very helpful”.
The 69-year-old, who is a Waspi woman affected by the decision to increase the state pension age, said she would be more careful with using the heating and spending on food shopping.
She said: “I think it’s terrible. That’s the first thing they did when they came into power and it’s alienated the pensioners.”
In a message to the Government, she added: “I’d ask them to U-turn. It’s a really hard one, I think it’s quite cruel really. Just to balance the books I think they’ve done it, there must be other ways.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves in July announced plans to scrap winter fuel payments for around 10 million pensioners in a bid to save the Treasury up to £1.5 billion a year.
She blamed a £22 billion black hole in the public finances left by the Tories, which they deny.
But the policy has come under intense criticism from opposition parties, campaigners, unions and some Labour MPs.
About 780,000 OAPs are expected to lose the payments because they are eligible for pension credit but do not claim it, according to the Government’s own analysis.
The latest figures show an extra 42,500 people have signed up for pension credit since a drive was launched July, but one in five are having to wait at least 10 weeks for their application to be processed.
The Government also came under fire for not carrying out a full impact assessment into the policy.
The Tory MP speaks to pensioners at the free lunch (Image: Humphrey Nemar/)
Charities urged elderly people to check if they are eligible for pension credit ahead of the December 21 cut-off.
Independent Age Chief Executive Joanna Elson said: “December 21 is fast approaching and there is just under a week left to apply for pension credit and ensure you get the next winter fuel payment.
“Cold weather has been battering the country in recent days, highlighting the importance of this payment to older people worried about having enough money to turn the heating on. The people in later life we speak to are frightened and resorting to drastic measures to get by.
“We have heard harrowing accounts of people living in one room, visiting public places to stay warm and going to bed in hats and coats. This shouldn’t be happening in modern Britain.
“There is very little time left, but we urge the UK Government to recognise the impact of its decision and reconsider its changes to the winter fuel payment.”
Age UK charity director Caroline Abrahams said: “Winter is a particularly tough time for older people as they need to keep warm to stay well, which is hard to do if you have to watch every penny.
“After the Government slashed eligibility for winter fuel payment it’s more important than ever to check you are receiving all the benefits to which you are entitled, including pension credit which, if successfully claimed, allows you to keep your winter fuel payment.
“If you are on a low income and wondering if you may be eligible for pension credit please look at the Benefits Checker on Age UK’s website, or the one on the Government’s website, to find out.
“If you aren’t online then please consider calling Age UK’s Advice Line, which is free and operates every day. Don’t assume that if you are a home owner or have some savings you are automatically disqualified because that’s not how pension credit works. And don’t be put off from claiming because of worries filling in the form, Age UK can help you to complete it.”
The Daily Express has been campaigning for a U-turn on the axing of winter fuel payments for most pensioners.
Praising the crusade, Ms Whately said: “I would say to the Daily Express you’ve done a fantastic job campaigning on this, raising awareness, putting pressure on the Government.
“But also reminding people that if they might be eligible for pension credit to apply, that’s really important.”
A Government spokesperson said:“We are committed to supporting pensioners – with millions set to see their state pension rise by up to £1,900 this parliament through our commitment to the triple lock.
“Over a million pensioners will still receive the winter fuel payment, and our drive to boost pension credit take up has seen applications more than double with over 40,000 more pensioners now receiving pension credit, and the winter fuel payment.
“Many others will also benefit from the £150 warm home discount to help with energy bills over winter while our extension of the household support fund will help with the cost of food, heating and bills.”
Comment by Silver Voices director Dennis Reed
It is a fallacy that the availability of pension credit absolves the Government of all responsibility for the impact of their cruel and unnecessary decision to scrap the winter fuel payment for over 10 million pensioners.
Only those on pension credit continue to receive this vital energy support.
The pension credit eligibility level is exceeded at an income level of only £218 per week, which most people would regard as insufficient to live comfortably and healthily in today’s world of high energy and food costs.
Many poor older people, encouraged by the Government’s high profile take-up campaign, have found to their cost that a very small private pension or modest savings disqualify them from receiving pension credit. A high proportion of recent applications are being refused.
The Government take-up campaign has succeeded in increasing the numbers on pension credit by a few tens of thousands, but this hardly scratches the surface of the eligibility gap.
About 750,000 pensioners who are eligible to receive the benefit have not applied. Partly this is due to the complex and very intrusive application process, requiring more than 200 questions to be completed, including detailed information on partners’ income.
But also, there is great reluctance in the older generations to claim benefits, and why should they have to when they have paid their taxes through their working lives?
It is older people just above the pension credit limit who are in an even worse position.
Pension credit is the gateway to many other benefits and according to the Government the average total amount received by those on pension credit is £3600 a year. It is always those just above the benefit cut-off point that lose out.
Charities estimate that 2-3 million pensioners who have just lost their winter fuel payments will struggle to pay their bills this winter.
In their splendid isolation, Ministers may assuage their guilt by believing the lie that pension credit system picks up all those pensioners who rely on the winter fuel payment.
But we know that many of our older neighbours and family members are struggling, and future votes will be cast with these real experiences in mind.
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