State pensioners having council tax hiked £200 after losing Winter Fuel Payment

State pensioners face a £200 council tax rise - after losing a £300 Winter Fuel Payment. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and new Labour Party government has shaken up Winter Fuel Allowance eligibility this year - in a blow to pensioners.

Taking to Channel 5 today, one pensioner discussed the reported five per cent council tax hike coming under the Labour Party government. Chatting to Jeremy Vine, Michael, who lives in a three-bedroom bungalow in Suffolk , said: “One of your panellists has said that council taxes haven't gone up by the Conservatives. Well, my council tax goes up by £150 to £200 a year.

“I'm a pensioner. I've had my winter fuel allowance taken away. Where am I supposed to get this extra money from?” After Mr Vine questioned if the pensioner lived in a “mansion”, which could answer for for the significantly high council tax bill, Michael responded: “I'm in a chalet Bungalow three-bed in Suffolk and I'm paying nearly £2,500 council tax.”

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Mr Vine then asked the pensioner if his local council provides him with a “straight answer” if questioned what the money is spent on. Michael said: “No, they won't give you any answer at all. They just say well, I'm going to spend it.”

He added: “I've got to spend £5,000 in the next month or two for a new oil burner. Where am I supposed to get it? It's okay to say we could have heat exchange units. It's going to cost me £25,000 to £30,000 for a heat exchange unit in my house.”

Labour has confirmed council tax rises will be kept at the 5% cap next year, which could mean a rise of £100 for the average family’s bills. The prime minister’s press secretary said on Wednesday that the threshold by which local authorities can increase bills would “remain the same”. Hours earlier Keir Starmer had dodged a question from Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, at prime minister’s questions about whether he would keep the cap on council tax.