Millions of older people at risk of losing winter fuel payment (Image: Getty)

       Campaigners have demanded that the Government reverse its “callous decision” to scrap the Winter Fuel Payment for 10 million pensioners.

       Chancellor Rachel Reeves yesterday scrapped the previously universal Winter Fuel Payment for older people unless they are on benefits.

       Silver Voices campaign group has launched a petition calling on Sir Keir Starmer’s government to u-turn on the move.

       Its director Dennis Reed said: “We call on the Government to reverse its callous decision to scrap the Winter Fuel Payment for 10 million older people from this year. Only the small minority of pensioners on pension credit will continue to receive energy support to help them keep warm during the winter. To qualify for pension credit and a host of other benefits, older people have to have an income of less than ￡218 per week (for a single person), which means that almost anyone with a small private pension is disqualified.

       “According to the charities this move will put 2 million older people into dire straits this winter. “Deaths from hypothermia and other cold-related causes will undoubtedly increase.

       “Silver Voices will campaign with vigour to convince politicians that this cruel policy must be reversed and that older people should not be the ones targeted to pay for the country's financial difficulties.

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       The payments of up to ￡300 have been made available to everyone above state pension age.

       However, from this winter pensioners will only receive a payment if they are receiving pension credit.

       The Treasury said the winter fuel changes would see the number of pensioners receiving the payments fall from 11.4 million to 1.5 million – so just under 10 million would miss out.

       Mr Reed said: "I have received hundreds of emails from shocked older people since the callous decision was taken yesterday to scrap the winter fuel payment for 10 million pensioners.

       “Some have told me that with the loss of hundreds of pounds in vital energy support, they do not know how they will survive next winter. Surely Labour does not want its legacy to be pictures of older people huddled in blankets all day to keep warm?

       “We hope that it will dawn on the Government that there will be a big political price to pay unless they reverse this hasty decision. We urge all Express readers to support our petition to build pressure for a rethink by Labour."

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       The Treasury said about ￡1.5 billion will be saved per year by targeting winter fuel payments.

       Pension credit is often described as a gateway benefit as it can lead to further support – and some people could see their income boosted thousands of pounds by making a successful claim.

       Even a small pension credit award can open doors to other benefits, including help with housing costs, council tax and heating bills.

       Speaking in the Commons, Rachel Reeves said: “The scale of the situation we are dealing with means incredibly tough choices. I repeat, today, the commitment that we made in our manifesto to protect the triple lock.

       “But, today, I am making the difficult decision that those not in receipt of pension credit or certain other means-tested benefits will no longer receive the winter fuel payment.

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       “From this year onwards, the Government will continue to provide winter fuel payments worth ￡200 for households receiving pension credit, or ￡300 for households in receipt of pension credit with someone over the age of 80.

       “Let me be clear, this is not a decision I wanted to make, nor is it the one that I expected to make, but these are the necessary and urgent decisions that I must make.”

       To sign the petition, visit this link.

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