Sir Keir Starmer has defended stopping all pensioners receiving the winter fuel payment, amid warnings it could create a “public health emergency”.
The Prime Minister used a speech in Downing Street’s rose garden to claim he “didn’t want to means-test” the payment, but said it was a “choice we had to make” to help “repair the public finances”.
The Government’s policy will stop winter fuel payments for people in England and Wales who are not in receipt of Pension Credit or other means-tested benefits.
That policy is expected to reduce the number of pensioners in receipt of the up to £300 payment by 10 million, from 11.4 million to 1.5 million, saving some £1.4 billion this financial year.
Sir Keir said there is a need to be “honest with people about the choices that we face”, adding: “Things will get worse before they get better.”
He said: “I didn’t want to means-test the winter fuel payment, but it was a choice that we had to make, a choice to protect the most vulnerable pensioners while doing what is necessary to repair the public finances.”
Charity Age UK said it “strongly” opposes means-testing the payment because it means “as many as two million pensioners who badly need the money to stay warm this winter will not receive it and will be in serious trouble as a result”.
The problem @hmtreasury fails to see is the impact on the NHS of more folk living in cold damp homes.
Minsters want to fix the NHS, yet the WFP decision puts more pensioners in the situation where they may need to access it.
Some will even die trying.https://t.co/xpArNAvOyp
— End Fuel Poverty Coalition (@EndFuelPoverty) August 27, 2024
Told about this warning, Sir Keir said: “So far as the winter fuel allowance is concerned, firstly I would say it’s not a particularly well-designed scheme, frankly – I think everybody would concede that.
“I do think it’s important that we make sure the support is there for those pensioners who need it most, which is why we’re pushing for the Pension Credit to be taken up and looking at other allowances.”
Simon Francis, co-ordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said: “The winter fuel payment axe is not about rot in the system, it is about basic fairness for older people facing soaring energy bills.
“In real terms, the changes this winter mean that some older people will face the highest energy bills on record.
“This has the potential to create a public health emergency which will actually create more pressure on the under-pressure NHS which the Prime Minister says he wants to fix.
“The impact of living in cold, damp homes is particularly harsh on those older people with a disability, a long-term health condition or with poor mental health. It results in people turning to the NHS and, in some cases, can result in additional winter deaths.
“Ending energy debt, extending the household support fund, expanding warm home discounts and evolving standing charges are all now needed urgently to help mitigate the impact of high bills and the axe to the winter fuel payment.”
The new rules are due to come into force on September 16.
The Conservatives have urged ministers to back down on their policy and are seeking to challenge the regulations in the Commons, although the Government has a working majority of 167.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel