A LEADING charity has said it has “serious concerns” about people’s health as the reality of cuts to the Winter Fuel Payment starts being felt across Scotland with temperatures plunging. 

In September, the new Labour Government voted to scrap the universal Winter Fuel Payment, stripping around 10 million pensioners of cash to help pay their heating bills. 

We told today how temperatures have dropped across Scotland, with the Tulloch Bridge area of the Highlands reaching as low as -7.8C on Sunday evening – the coldest in the UK.  

(Image: Met Office)

Now, Age Scotland, which has previously labelled the cut a “scandalous decision,” said “the reality of removing the universal Winter Fuel Payment will be setting in for older people on low and modest incomes across the country”.

Chief executive Katherine Crawford told The National: “85% of pensioners in Scotland living in poverty or on the poverty line will have at least £200 less in their pockets as they face increasing energy bills over the coldest months.

“We are seriously concerned about their health being jeopardised due to reluctance or inability to heat their homes to a comfortable level for fear of falling into debt.

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“We know that living in cold or damp conditions as we get older can increase the risk of flu and respiratory illness, as well as increasing instances of heart attack and stroke.”

Following the move from the UK Government, the Scottish Government said it had been left with “no choice” but to end universal fuel payments north of the Border.

Crawford urged anyone who was unsure about their eligibility for Pension Credit or who was in need of advice to get in touch via 0800 12 44 222.

“With the Scottish Budget coming up and an extra £3.4 billion in Barnett consequentials announced by the UK Government, we desperately hope to see measures outlined to support older people this winter,” Crawford added.

“Reinstating the devolved Pension Age Winter Heating Payment for all pensioners would amount to less than 5% of this extra money, and would show what Scotland can do using the powers of devolution.”

A yellow weather warning for much of the Highlands has been put in place and will come into force from 4pm on Monday, November 18, and last until 10am on Wednesday, November 20.

Party calls

The SNP have described the cut as "abhorrent and cruel," saying the effects would be particularly bad in the Highlands. 

MSP Emma Roddick (below), who represents the Highlands and Islands, said: "The UK Labour Government's decision to take away the Winter Fuel Payment from 90,800 pensioners in my region of the Highlands and Islands - and almost 900,000 across the whole of Scotland - is abhorrent and cruel.

"In sharp contrast, the SNP Scottish Government is providing support for those on certain benefits through the Winter Heating Payment - a payment triggered regardless of the temperature, unlike its UK counterparts; but it's inexcusable for Sir Keir Starmer's government to callously take away previously guaranteed support without any consideration for who it will impact.

"This is particularly pertinent this week as temperatures plummet and energy bills - which are already higher for my constituents in the north of Scotland - are expected to rise once again, according to media reports.

"The Labour Party promised the public they would reduce energy bills, yet they have only increased since July, with the little support that was once available now cut.

"Labour can't be trusted to act in the best interests of Scotland's most vulnerable, but the SNP will always stand up for them and oppose such awful Westminster policies."

As well as calls from Age Scotland, the Scottish Greens have also said the effects of the cut will be “tragic, especially in the north of Scotland”.

The party’s social security spokesperson and MSP for North East Scotland Maggie Chapman (below) told The National: “We won’t be counting money saved from this cut, instead we’ll be counting the lives lost.

“Rachel Reeves claimed she had no choice but to cut the Winter Fuel Payment, yet she was able to find plenty of money to recommit to nuclear weapons on the Clyde and to building new fossil fuel power plants.”

It comes as household hopes for energy bills to edge lower in January look set to be dashed as the latest prediction shows a rise at the start of next year.

Energy consultancy Cornwall Insight said it expects Ofgem to reveal on Friday that the typical household energy bill will rise by 1% or £19 from £1736 to £1717 on January 1.

Chapman added: “The Scottish Greens have been clear that we must reinstate the Winter Fuel Payment, but also lower energy bills for everyone in Scotland.

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“We’ve seen a rapid reduction in the cost of producing electricity in recent years thanks to clean, green renewables, but due to the linking of gas prices and household electricity bills, we have yet to see that impact for working people.

“It’s time for Labour to deliver more than just warm words, we need warm homes for all.”

We previously told how a Scottish couple launched a legal challenge against both the UK and Scottish governments over cuts to the payment.

Former first minister Alex Salmond had given the couple his backing while former SNP MP Joanna Cherry will act as senior counsel.

Speaking to The National, Alba general secretary Chris McEleny (below) said: “Close to one million pensioners in Scotland are to lose out on their fuel payment this winter.

“The UK Labour Government ended universal entitlement without doing the required impact assessment – most likely because it would’ve shown thousands of deaths as a result of their decision and a disproportionate amount of those deaths will be in Scotland.

“It is absurd that energy rich Scotland will have freezing pensioners this winter.

“It is not too late for the Scottish Government to do the right thing and back Scotland’s pensioners by facing down Westminster on this issue as opposed to their current position of going to the Court of Session on the same side as the UK Government against the pensioners of Scotland.”

Elsewhere, SNP MSP for Aberdeen Central Kevin Stewart shared an image of a weather map on Twitter/X, highlighting the cold temperatures expected to hit Scotland.

He said: “Winter is already beginning to bite & today’s weather map shows quite clearly how pensioners in Scotland are going to be disproportionately hit by Labour’s cuts to winter fuel payments.

“Scotland is energy rich, we just need the power to create a fairer nation – independence.”

Responding, Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: "The UK Government's decision to restrict eligibility for Winter Fuel Payments was taken without consultation or discussion with the Scottish Government and will reduce the funding available for the previously proposed universal Pension Age Winter Heating Payment by £147 million in 2024/25. 

"As a result, ministers had to take the difficult decision to mirror this approach in our Pension Age Winter Heating Payment. 

"However, this Government will continue to press the UK Government to reverse its decision and will keep eligibility for the benefit under review."

Kate Forbes MSP said: “Many in the north of Scotland woke up to snow and ice today, bringing home the harsh reality of Labour’s decision to withdraw the Winter Fuel Payment.

“There continues to be a deafening silence from Labour MPs who represent areas with the highest proportion of fuel poverty, like the Highlands and Islands.

“This brutal decision affects almost 100,000 people across the Highlands and Islands – including over 15,000 in my own constituency.“The most recent UK Budget confirms that Labour are unwilling to reverse these devastating cuts and support Highland households.”

The UK Government has been approached for comment.