DWP makes bombshell admission over scrapping £300 Winter Fuel Payments

The Department for Work and Pensions has admitted Winter Fuel Payment cuts will plunge tens of thousands of pensioners into poverty. According to the DWP ’s modelling, around 50,000 more pensioners will be pushed into absolute poverty in each year from 2024/25 to 2029/30 as a result of the winter fuel payment cuts. These pensioners are also included in the ‘relative poverty’ estimates.

“Means-testing winter fuel payments was not a decision this government wanted or expected to take,” Liz Kendall wrote in her letter to the work and pensions committee. “However, we were forced to take difficult decisions to balance the books in light of the £22bn black hole we inherited.

“Given the dire state of the public finances, it’s right that we target support to those who need it most while we continue our work to fix the foundations and stabilise the economy – which is the best way to support pensioners in the long term and is what has allowed us to deliver our commitment to the triple lock.”

READ MORE 29 parts of England set for snow on Tuesday and Wednesday according to Met Office

The figures are rounded to the nearest 50,000 individuals, reflecting the uncertainty of the estimates. An annual figure of anywhere between 25,000 and 74,999 would be published as 50,000, while a figure of between 75,000 and 124,999 would be published as 100,000.

Peter Smith, director of policy and advocacy of National Energy Action, said: “Millions of low-income and vulnerable households are facing the cold weather and the onset of winter with dread. As well as struggling with ongoing, unaffordable energy bills, there is now far less support this winter due to the changes to the winter fuel payment. As a charity we are already seeing the daily impact of acute physical and mental suffering, and a growing mountain of energy debt.”

Morgan Vine, director of policy & influencing at Independent Age, said: “It’s extremely concerning to see that energy bills are predicted to go up yet again next year. This means older people living on low incomes will have to stretch their already limited budget even further.

“Worryingly, many people in later life will have to manage this predicted bill increase without the winter fuel payment, a vital lifeline for many. Time is running out and the weather is turning bitter, but it’s not too late for the UK Government to change course and ensure everyone who needs the winter fuel payment receives it.”