New DWP state pension rule 'could cause death of 4,000 people'

A new state pension rule could cause the death of 4,000 people, it has been warned. A Winter Fuel Allowance cut - costing state pensioners £300 each under new Labour Party government eligibility criteria - means OAPs will develop "unsafe behaviours" due to missing cash.

Rhian Bowen-Davies has urged UK ministers to reverse the decision which is estimated to affect around 10 million pensioners. Ms Bowen-Davies said: "People will feel the impact of this. We know that this could impact on 4,000 additional deaths this winter."

Charity Independent Age has called on the Government to delay implementing the cuts until an impact assessment has been carried out. Simon Francis, coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, commented: "The new figures confirm that many older people will now start to develop unsafe behaviours as a result of the Winter Fuel Payment cuts, including limiting themselves to living in one room of their homes during the winter."

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Mr Francis noted that, until the Government fully implements its plans to improve insulation and ventilation of buildings and stabilise energy costs, "vulnerable households will continue to need financial support." He added: “That’s why the Winter Fuel Payments were so important, the money provided helps older households stay warm each winter. Sadly, now more older people are expected to live in cold damp homes this winter and this puts them at greater risk of ill health, meaning the costs to the NHS will soar.”

Caroline Simpson, spokesperson at campaign group Warm This Winter said: “Over half a million people from all walks of life have voiced their fears about the Winter Fuel Payments being axed through petitions. We urge the Government to listen to them with a delay this winter so the impact can be properly assessed and help given to those pensioners who will not cope without it.

“We know the majority of people in the UK support an affordable, social tariff which would help the most vulnerable such as families, the ill and the 6.5 million in fuel poverty, funded by the wider energy industry who are raking in billions in profits while we are all paying 60 percent more on our energy bills since the start of the crisis.”

Ms Simpson urged the Government to “get on with” the important initiative of insulating homes, which she argues is “the quickest way” to reduce bills.