Mirror readers have come out in force to slam Labour’s controversial cuts to winter fuel payments, which will leave many pensioners forced to choose between eating or heating. From blaming the aftermath of 14 years of Tory rule to criticising the ruling government ‘always targeting the elderly and the working class’, many of you had a lot to say.
Thousands of Mirror readers have voted against Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ plans to cut around 10 million winter fuel payments.
Answering our poll Should Labour have scrapped winter fuel payments for millions of OAPs?, an enormous 21,325 readers said no, while just 1,549 said yes.
The chancellor told MPs she was “angry” at having to swing the axe while blasting the last Tory Government for leaving a £22billion ‘black hole’ in the public finances. But charities have criticised the move, saying it could result in a ‘eating or heating’ dilemma for many.
The change means those not receiving pension credit – available to OAPs whose income falls below a certain threshold – or other means-tested benefits will no longer get the annual payments worth between £100 and £300. In 2022-23, the latest figures available, just more than 11.1 million pensioners were eligible for winter fuel payment in England and Wales.
But as of last November, only 1.2m were eligible for pension credits. That means about 9.9m will miss out in England and Wales. The change does not apply in Scotland, where responsibility for the payment is set to be transferred to the Scottish Government this winter.
The cuts are most likely to affect pensioners in affluent areas, with more than nine in 10 pensioners missing out on fuel payments this year in some parts of the country.
Many of you commented on our article, here’s just a selection of what some of you had to say:
Fred Hendon: “(Labour) should have retained the winter fuel payments and tax it. Those just above the benefits threshold by 1p would still get all of it, while those paying tax would also still get it but proportionately less the higher their tax rate. Simples.”
Biffomajor: “What Labour should really do is find the 800,000 who are entitled to pension credit and pay them money owed, which would also mean paying them winter fuel payments. Also those only about £20 a week above the pension credit should have the fuel allowance as well. These are the very poorest of pensioners and the fact that Labour doesn’t care about them is shocking. Of course this would mean a new very big hole in the finances again, but better to pay them, than all the public sector workers strong-arming the government.”
EKman: “It would have been better to have raised the Personal Tax threshold and then scrap winter fuel payments for those not on pension credits, This would have helped families and pensioners on low Incomes as well and still tax the rich. But perhaps that’s what the Chancellor is thinking of doing in the Autumn Budget?”
Robbo23: “Simple solution is to raise tax on the Premiership footballers who are earning a fortune just for kicking a ball around.”
Jemkay: “The winter fuel payment should be means tested and only go to those who need it in the form of a cheque/voucher payable to your energy company. All benefits should be paid with vouchers to make sure they are used for what they are intended for ie food/travel/rent/council tax. That might stop the fraudulent benefit claimers. Not all pensioners are poor, the benefit should go to the ones that need it”
Christopher1959: “I fully understand the dire predicament of Britain’s finances, but I think that Rachel Reeves made an error. As to the financial mess, I blame 100% the 14+ years of Tory rule, and I’m glad that the Tories are out of power.”
Charities have criticised the move, with Age UK warning that up to two million elderly people who just miss out on receiving a payment could face some stark choices this winter.
Age UK says that one in three pensioners who are entitled to pension credit – the qualifying benefit for a winter fuel payment – don’t claim it. The charity estimates that more than 800,000 elderly people on low incomes who do not receive pension credit will now also lose their winter fuel payments.
Around a million additional elderly people with incomes below £50 per week will also be hit hard by the loss of the payment, the charity estimates. Age UK says the cuts will also hit a third group living in energy-inefficient homes – or with illnesses that make it necessary for them to stay warm – who may struggle to find the extra money to heat their homes.
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