Pensioners criticize changes to winter fuel payment as DWP publishes new update on who can claim £300

Pensioners have criticized the Government for making changes to the Winter Fuel Payment amid rising energy bills.

In July, Rachel Reeves announced the payment would only be issued to those receiving pension credit or other means-tested benefits, including universal credit.

The annual tax-free payment of between £100 and £300 was introduced to help pensioners with the cost of heating their homes in winter.

Until now, anyone who had reached state pension age and lived in Britain was eligible to receive the payment, even if they had savings or a private pension. It was also open to those who had not paid National Insurance contributions.

Last year, more people than ever received the Winter Fuel Payment, according to new figures published by the Department for Work and Pensions.

A total of 11.6 million received the payment, 214,000 more than in 2022/23.

Age UK estimates that 2.5 million pensioners “who urgently need the money to keep warm this winter” will not receive it and will find themselves in “serious trouble”.

It comes as the DWP published an update on which pensioners will be eligible to apply for the payment.

From today, eligible pensioners living abroad can claim the £300 cash by post.

However, only pensioners who receive a pension credit or its equivalent in the country in which they live will be eligible.

Some retirees have taken to social media to express their frustration and anger against the Government.

One of them said: “Starmer OUT and any MP who voted to have their winter fuel payment removed, this party seems to persecute the elderly and vulnerable sick, IT’S SHAMEFUL.”

Another said: ‘How did you vote on paying for winter fuel?… Oh that’s right, you voted to freeze the elderly!’

Reeves scrapped the payments in a bid to find £1.4bn in savings ahead of the autumn budget, due next month.

However, charities and pensioners are urging her to backtrack on the plan as the energy price cap rises ahead of the colder months.

From tomorrow, Ofgem’s energy price cap will rise to £1,717 a year on average. While this is much lower than the average of £4,279 in January 2023, it is still much higher than pre-2022 levels, when annual bills averaged between £1,100 and £1,300.

Recent Ofgem figures show energy debt has reached £3.7bn.

A spokesperson for the End Fuel Poverty Coalition said: “We are now approaching the fourth winter of sky-high energy prices, meaning the average household will have paid more than £2,500 more for their energy than if we had not been so exposed to the changes. volatile”. energy markets.

“For older people who previously received winter fuel payments, but will no longer receive them under the Chancellor’s new rules, the situation is even worse.”

Others have warned of the negative impact the removal of the winter fuel payment will also have on the NHS.

Jan Shortt, general secretary of the National Pensioners’ Convention, said: “The loss of winter fuel allowance for most older people clearly puts them at risk.” It is a known fact that older people need warmth and a stable temperature to maintain their health.

“Living in cold, damp homes increases the risk of strokes, heart disease, respiratory conditions, and generally harms the rest of the body.”