Rachel Reeves announced the Winter Fuel Payment cut in July (Image: Getty)
The Government is being called on to make a U-turn on their decision to axe the Winter Fuel Payment ahead of freezing weather coming.
The Winter Fuel Payment was introduced in 1997 by then-chancellor, Gordon Brown. It was intended to help older people with their heating costs during the colder months.
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It is ￡200 to ￡300, depending on age, paid annually in autumn and was paid to all pensioners, irrespective of income or wealth.
But in July, Chancellor Rachel Reeves, announced that the payment would now only be given to older people who received pension credit - the very poorest pensioners.
This is expected to reduce the number who get the money from more than 11 million to about 1.5 million.
READ MORE Six vital energy bill payouts that households can claim to help with costs
This was mainly done to save money. Reeves has made cuts to plug a ￡22bn hole in the government’s finances she claims was left by the Conservatives, a deficit she says had not been anticipated. Limiting the winter fuel payment will save about ￡1.5bn a year.
This proved controversial, being very heavily criticised by charities representing older people, and by a series of trade unions. It is also opposed by the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Scottish National party.
The Prime Minister said government was committed to the pension "triple lock" which would increase by ￡460 next year. "That means pensioners under Labour will be better off because we are going to stabilise the economy after that lot lost control of it," he said.
The axing of the Winter Fuel Payment has encouraged pensioners to apply for Pension Credit, a historically under-claimed Department for Work and Pensions benefit.
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In the five weeks after Reeves' announcement, the number of poorer pensioners applying for the benefit more than doubled, with 38,500 new applications.
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DWP letters to be sent out over major update as end date for six benefits confirmed
2 Comments
Millions due more than ￡1600 worth of financial support this winter
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Labour's ‘cruel' Winter Fuel Payment cut just got crueller and lives are on the line
284 Comments
DWP to send 60,000 people crucial warning letter each month from February
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2 Comments
DWP sending ￡617 into bank accounts 'earlier than normal' this December
8 Comments
DWP payments could add up to ￡20,000 to your bank account before Christmas
1 Comments
DWP confirms exact amount PIP and DLA payments will rise with ￡749 boost
Comments
DWP urges one group to make claim before deadline to receive ￡3,900 and Winter Fuel Paymen
1 Comments
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5 Comments
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1 Comments
DWP update on ￡10 Christmas Bonus as people told to look for five digit code
15 Comments
State pensioners born in these years get instant ￡100 Winter Fuel Payment increase
14 Comments
Exact amount DWP will increase payouts for parents from April
1 Comments
UK households handed ￡503 payment this winter with little-known benefit
6 Comments
PIP, Income Support and Universal Credit claimants could lower broadband bill to ￡12.50
Comments
DWP act now warning to get ￡12.50 broadband - full list of those eligible
10 Comments
Pensioners could be missing out on ￡2,600 in benefits and freebies this winter
Comments
DWP letters to be sent out over major update as end date for six benefits confirmed
2 Comments
Millions due more than ￡1600 worth of financial support this winter
Comments
Labour's ‘cruel' Winter Fuel Payment cut just got crueller and lives are on the line
284 Comments
DWP to send 60,000 people crucial warning letter each month from February
2 Comments
Winter Fuel Payment cuts have 'positive consequences' as pensioners 'split' on decision
23 Comments
DWP giving free Christmas handout to people claiming these 23 benefits
12 Comments
When eligible Brits can expect Winter Fuel Payments to start after cuts
2 Comments
DWP sending ￡617 into bank accounts 'earlier than normal' this December
8 Comments
DWP payments could add up to ￡20,000 to your bank account before Christmas
1 Comments
DWP confirms exact amount PIP and DLA payments will rise with ￡749 boost
Comments
DWP urges one group to make claim before deadline to receive ￡3,900 and Winter Fuel Paymen
1 Comments
Martin Lewis warns who is ‘very unlikely' to get council tax rebanded
5 Comments
Benefits you can no longer claim when you reach State Pension age including income support
1 Comments
DWP update on ￡10 Christmas Bonus as people told to look for five digit code
15 Comments
State pensioners born in these years get instant ￡100 Winter Fuel Payment increase
14 Comments
Exact amount DWP will increase payouts for parents from April
1 Comments
UK households handed ￡503 payment this winter with little-known benefit
6 Comments
PIP, Income Support and Universal Credit claimants could lower broadband bill to ￡12.50
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DWP act now warning to get ￡12.50 broadband - full list of those eligible
10 Comments
Pensioners could be missing out on ￡2,600 in benefits and freebies this winter
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DWP letters to be sent out over major update as end date for six benefits confirmed
2 Comments
Millions due more than ￡1600 worth of financial support this winter
Comments
Labour's ‘cruel' Winter Fuel Payment cut just got crueller and lives are on the line
284 Comments
DWP to send 60,000 people crucial warning letter each month from February
2 Comments
Winter Fuel Payment cuts have 'positive consequences' as pensioners 'split' on decision
23 Comments
DWP giving free Christmas handout to people claiming these 23 benefits
12 Comments
When eligible Brits can expect Winter Fuel Payments to start after cuts
2 Comments
This represents a 115% increase in potential claimants, many of whom will get weekly pension payments under ￡218.15 if they are single, or ￡332.95 for couples.
Pensioners can still get a Winter Fuel Payment if they were born before 23 September 1958. They must also live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland and receive Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit.
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