POLL: Should Labour ditch cuts to Winter Fuel Payments in this week's Budget? (Image: Getty)
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is under pressure to reverse cuts to the Winter Fuel Payment when she delivers her Budget on Wednesday.
Millions of pensioners are due to miss out on up to ￡300 this year, as the benefit to help cover heating costs is limited to those on Pension Credit and certain benefits.
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This means just 1.5million pensioners are eligible compared to 11.4million. Around eight in ten older people with incomes just below or above the poverty threshold will be stripped of the payments this year, according to research by Age UK.
The charity fears that there will be a looming “disaster” unless there is a U-turn in the Budget this week.
The Chancellor announced the change in July, just three weeks after taking office, to help fill a ￡22billion spending black hole.
Ms Reeves estimates that axing the Winter Fuel Payment for all pensioners will save the Treasury ￡1.4billion this year, and ￡1.5billion next year.
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Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride wrote in the Daily Express last week: “Ministers claim those who need the Winter Fuel Payment will at least still get it and they will qualify for pension credit. It is their justification for this cruel and poorly thought-through policy.
“But this overlooks the simple fact that many pensioners who would qualify for pension credit, don’t receive it.
“And even for those that apply, it was recently revealed that one in five pension credit applications aren’t even being processed within a 10-week period.
“That means that countless vulnerable pensioners on less than ￡11,500 a year will miss out on this vital payment in time for the winter.”
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Horror winter fuel map shows how many pensioners will suffer under Rachel Reeves' cuts
4 Comments
Labour told to make guarantee to pensioners over 'cruel' winter fuel payments plan
209 Comments
Rachel Reeves urges to make key pledge to pensioners in Budget after winter fuel cuts
10 Comments
Pension warning as 294,000 over 66 missing out on ￡4,400 free cash
3 Comments
DWP urges people claiming ￡3,900 Pension Credit to avoid this mistake
Comments
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10 Comments
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5 Comments
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13 Comments
State pensioners wake up to ￡450 missing from bank accounts after DWP change
23 Comments
'Rachel Reeves must state clearly that no other OAP benefits will be touched in Budget'
54 Comments
DWP to send Winter Fuel Payment letters to 12 million people
1 Comments
Martin Lewis MSE says DWP sending UK households ￡4,250
1 Comments
DWP alert over ￡475 'bonus' payments before Christmas - check if you're eligible
13 Comments
Fury over 'disastrous' ￡13,000 loss to private pension pots
4 Comments
Rachel Reeves handed winter fuel payment petition with 150,000 signatures
32 Comments
Budget is ideal time to reverse heartless winter fuel payment policy, says Mel Stride
37 Comments
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1112 Comments
Martin Lewis MSE urges pensioners to get ￡4,400 from DWP and it's not Pension Credit
Comments
DWP benefit and money changes in November include chance of ￡200 for households
2 Comments
State Pensioners sent ￡9,100 by DWP after losing ￡300 Winter Fuel Payment
4 Comments
Horror winter fuel map shows how many pensioners will suffer under Rachel Reeves' cuts
4 Comments
Labour told to make guarantee to pensioners over 'cruel' winter fuel payments plan
209 Comments
Rachel Reeves urges to make key pledge to pensioners in Budget after winter fuel cuts
10 Comments
Pension warning as 294,000 over 66 missing out on ￡4,400 free cash
3 Comments
DWP urges people claiming ￡3,900 Pension Credit to avoid this mistake
Comments
Tax rises for the wealthy backed by over half of Brits
10 Comments
DWP opens Winter Fuel Payment phone lines this week with millions still to claim
5 Comments
Rachel Reeves slammed by Labour grandee over Budget plans for retirees
13 Comments
State pensioners wake up to ￡450 missing from bank accounts after DWP change
23 Comments
'Rachel Reeves must state clearly that no other OAP benefits will be touched in Budget'
54 Comments
DWP to send Winter Fuel Payment letters to 12 million people
1 Comments
Martin Lewis MSE says DWP sending UK households ￡4,250
1 Comments
DWP alert over ￡475 'bonus' payments before Christmas - check if you're eligible
13 Comments
Fury over 'disastrous' ￡13,000 loss to private pension pots
4 Comments
Rachel Reeves handed winter fuel payment petition with 150,000 signatures
32 Comments
Budget is ideal time to reverse heartless winter fuel payment policy, says Mel Stride
37 Comments
Keir Starmer faces backlash after claiming pensioners are better off under Labour
1112 Comments
Martin Lewis MSE urges pensioners to get ￡4,400 from DWP and it's not Pension Credit
Comments
DWP benefit and money changes in November include chance of ￡200 for households
2 Comments
State Pensioners sent ￡9,100 by DWP after losing ￡300 Winter Fuel Payment
4 Comments
Horror winter fuel map shows how many pensioners will suffer under Rachel Reeves' cuts
4 Comments
Labour told to make guarantee to pensioners over 'cruel' winter fuel payments plan
209 Comments
Rachel Reeves urges to make key pledge to pensioners in Budget after winter fuel cuts
10 Comments
Pension warning as 294,000 over 66 missing out on ￡4,400 free cash
3 Comments
DWP urges people claiming ￡3,900 Pension Credit to avoid this mistake
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Tax rises for the wealthy backed by over half of Brits
10 Comments
DWP opens Winter Fuel Payment phone lines this week with millions still to claim
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He also called for Ms Reeves to ditch the controversial policy in her Budget. He said: “It is becoming increasingly clear that this policy is not fit for purpose and perhaps all will not be lost.”
He added that the Budget is the “ideal time to reverse this heartless policy and restore peace of mind to millions of our pensioners”.
So what do YOU think? Should Labour ditch cuts to Winter Fuel Payments in this week's Budget? Vote in our poll and join the debate in the comment section below.