State pensioners will 'freeze to death' after DWP 'refuses to extend December deadline'

Pensioners will "freeze to death" in harsh winter weather after the new Labour Party government's "extremely cruel and dangerous" cuts, it has been claimed. Pensioners could freeze this winter if they miss the deadline to receive Pension Credit.

Calls for the deadline to be extended beyond December 21 have come from across the political spectrum. Ministers have been branded "cruel" after they refused to extend the deadline for the Pension Credit application following the wake of the Department foe Work and Pensions ( DWP ) Winter Fuel Payment cut.

Speaking to the Sunday Express, former pensions minister Baroness Altmann said the cuts were "extremely cruel, poorly conceived and actually dangerous.” She said: "The Department for Work and Pensions is struggling to deal with the new pension credit applications it has already received, let alone any more that will come along.

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"Those eligible for help may still not receive anything this winter unless some changes are made, which so far there is no sign of. I truly fear for the lives of some of these frail, elderly people as the weather gets cold." Labour MP Rachael Maskell said: “I am deeply concerned about older people being cold this winter and as a result falling unwell or even dying.

"Now the nights are getting colder it is vital that fuel-poor pensioners have more time to claim their winter fuel payments and more support to stay warm and well." A DWP spokesperson said: “We want to ensure all pensioners get the support they’re entitled to, which is why we are deploying over 500 extra staff to process the expected increase in claims.

“Our pension credit campaign has also been successful in boosting applications by 152%." Rachel Reeves, the Labour Party Chancellor, spoke out last month and said: “I have made my choices — the responsible choices — to restore stability to our country.”