How Many Will Die?
Labour withdraws Winter fuel payment for millions
The new Labour government, in the form of Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves, has removed the Winter Fuel Payment for 10 million pensioners.
In her first major announcement in the House of Commons today (29 July) the Winter Fuel Payment introduced by the last Labour government in 1997 sees a huge change for millions of pensioners.
The £300 payment has been paid to all pensioners, but will now be means-tested. To receive the payment in the future, individuals will need to be receiving pension credits.
"Let me be clear, this is not a decision I wanted to make"
~ Rachel Reeves
Really?
While the Labour government needs to save taxpayers money, removing fuel payments from 10 million pensioners will be unpopular, mostly with those very pensioners.
Many retired people are on fixed income, from state pensions and in many cases, personal pensions, while prices continue to increase. Electric and gas bills are at all-time highs, even with the so-called caps in place.
This change will result in millions considering switching off or reducing their home heating this Winter. That is going to result in some people freezing and some are going to die through lack of heat.
"We strongly oppose the means-testing of Winter Fuel Payment (WFP) 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 and will be in trouble as a result – yet at the other end of the spectrum well-off older people will scarcely notice the difference – a social injustice.
~ Caroline Abrahams CBE, Charity Director at Age UK
During the announcements this afternoon, Reeves confirmed a deal with the BMA for doctors to receive a 22% increase over two years.
What can we expect in the Autumn budget statement for pensioners? All money is on removing the triple-lock, taking away guaranteed increases to state pensions.
Perhaps, to keep warm this Winter, pensioners should go back to university and re-train as doctors.