Winter fuel payment cuts mean 'eat or heat' choice

Penny Bailey said for some pensioners it would be "eat or heat" this winter

Pensioners in Hull have said they will have to choose whether to "eat or heat" after losing out on winter fuel payments.

About 10 million people in England and Wales will lose the allowance under the chancellor's plans which would see the payments only go to those who receive pension credit or other means-tested benefits.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said the government was "committed to pensioners".

Penny Bailey, 70, who is a volunteer at an Age UK centre in Hull, told BBC Look North that many pensioners were "very upset" at the change.

"It's definitely affects me," she said.

"My heating bills last year were enormous and with the help of the government I just about made it through.

"I think it’s eat or heat.

"It’s very upsetting because we were the first targeted. It wasn't mentioned in the manifesto about us losing it."

She added she hoped the government would change its mind.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the government had to fix a "black hole" public finances

The allowance is worth between £100 and £300, depending on age and whether the person lives alone.

Announcing the cut, Chancellor Rachel Reeves told the BBC she had found a "black hole" in the public finances and "had to act" to "fix the mess".

The government has also urged the roughly 850,000 households who are eligible to receive pension credit but do not claim it to apply for it.

Jackie Holden, 87, described the decision as "terrible".

"I won't get it," she said.

"I'm one of those that will not get that allowance.

"In the winter time my heating is never off and so yes this time it'll be turned right the way down, or probably off."

Jackie Holden said her heating was always on over the winter

Wendy Vernon, 77, said she did not think removing the payment was "the right choice because pensioners rely on that money".

"Keir Starmer, before he was elected, was speaking about an 84-year-old lady that had to choose between heating and eating," she said.

"And he said it was disgraceful. The first thing he does when they're in power is remove the winter fuel allowance."

Wendy Vernon said pensioners relied on the winter fuel payments

A DWP spokesperson said: “This government is committed to pensioners: protecting the triple lock, keeping energy bills low through our Warm Homes Plan, and cutting NHS waiting lists – bringing real stability to people’s lives.

“We said we would be honest with the public and, given the dire state of the public finances we have inherited, this government must take difficult decisions to fix the foundations of the economy.

“In these circumstances it is right that Winter Fuel Payments are targeted at those in most need, and we will work with local authorities to boost the uptake of Pension Credit, reaching the many pensioners who could still benefit from this year’s Winter Fuel Payments.”

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