Almost 15,000 pensioners in Wallasey will lose their Winter Fuel Payment, following yesterday's announcement by Labour. Last year, this was worth between £250 and £600 for pensioners in the town. It was paid automatically, with no need to fill in forms to apply.
Until yesterday, both Labour and Conservatives had always pledged to protect the Winter Fuel Payments, recognising how it helped pensioners to meet the rise in the cost of living, including those who were a few pounds above the threshold for Pension Credit.
By scrapping the Winter Fuel Payment, most pensioners will see their incomes cut this year, as energy bills are set to rise from October. Just 2,866, out of 17,534 pensioners in Wallasey, will get help following Labour's decision.
- Leasowe and Moreton East: 2,149 pensioners to lose Winter Fuel Payments
- Liscard and Egremont: 2,313 pensioners to lose Winter Fuel Payments
- Moreton West & Saughall Massie: 2,942 pensioners to lose Winter Fuel Payments
- New Brighton: 2,617 pensioners to lose Winter Fuel Payments
- Seacombe: 1,473 pensioners to lose Winter Fuel Payments
- Upton: 2,628 pensioners to lose Winter Fuel Payments
- Wallasey Ward: 3,181 pensioners to lose Winter Fuel Payments
Finance expert Martin Lewis: "The Energy Price Cap is likely to rise 10% this October and stay high across the winter, leaving most energy bills nearly double those pre-crisis, at levels unaffordable for millions. Many pensioners eke out the £100 to £300 Winter Fuel Payments to allow them to keep some heating on through the cold months."
Pensions campaigner Baroness Ros Altmann CBE said: "Taking away Winter Fuel Payments from millions of pensioners, even those on low incomes who are either a little above pension credit level or don't claim, is cruel. This amounts to a 3% cut in basic state pension for the over 80s, far worse than dropping the triple lock!"
AGE UK said: "We strongly oppose the means-testing of Winter Fuel Payment because our initial estimate is that as many as two million pensioners who badly need the money to stay warm this winter will not receive it. With winter now just over the horizon, the Government should halt their proposed change to WFP and think again, given the clear evidence of how it will hurt the older people who need it the most."