The DWP has just published its Equality Analysis of winter fuel payment cuts. Around 71% of pensioners with a disability and 83% of the over-80s will lose the benefit.
>About 780,000 pensioners who need the winter fuel payment will lose out on it when Labour begins means-testing the benefit, according to the government’s own equality analysis.
>After the government was criticised for not carrying out a full impact assessment of the change, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) quietly released a document on Friday night which predicted that about 780,000 pensioners whose low incomes mean they are eligible for the payment will stop getting it when it becomes means-tested.
>From this winter, only pensioners who are entitled to receive pension credit or certain other benefits will continue to receive the winter fuel allowance, stripping an estimated 10 million pensioners of the tax-free payment of up to £300 a year.
>The newly released government assessment, published in response to a freedom of information request, revealed that 880,000 pensioners who are entitled to pension credit do not claim this benefit. It predicted that only about 10% of them will have taken up the credit when the changes kick in, meaning 780,000 pensioners on low incomes will miss out on the winter fuel payments they are eligible for and currently receive.
>The assessment also revealed that the changes, which the government has said are part of efforts to stabilise the economy and are expected to save about £1.3bn, would have a negative impact on the majority of pensioners with a disability and those aged over 80.
>Nearly three-quarters (71%) of disabled pensioners – about 1.6 million people – and 83% of people over 80 will lose their entitlement to the payment, the figures showed.
Given the average temperature is colder up here – and we also have an older population- this could hit Scotland harder.
Wonder what the percentages of people losing this will be per country. I can imagine wealthy pensioners in the Home Counties less impacted than poor pensioners in the highlands.
Remember, folks, we live on one of the richest islands in the world!
/s
Okay? And?
I have relatives who are over 80, and like many that age have some sort of disability, and they are richer than I could ever hope to be. And have a triple locked state pension which is rising by way above inflation this year on top.
Why would being over 80 mean you can’t afford fuel at winter? They are literally the richest age group in the country.
The majority of people who live until their 80s are less deprived so duh. You can manipulate statistics any way you want.
Disgusting of labour. Targeting the demographic they know is less likely to vote for them to squeeze a few pennies, whilst Khan bangs on about putting prisoners ahead of the homeless. Rotten fucking lot.
Jesus, the drama over this is grating. My parents are retired and have a net worth in the millions. They shouldn’t be getting winter fuel allowance, and I doubt they’d argue with that statement. In general, pensioners are the richest demographic in the UK.
If the boomers were getting the same flak us millenials get, we’d be telling them to eat less avocado toast and consider downsizing from the 4 bedroom detached they bought for 25p and a packet of crisps on a single income in 1981.
The elderly are far too powerful.
On top of that the right wing press and tories etc don’t have a lot to go after labour for
I think they’ve made the wrong decision here and was too harshly done
Where’s Sarwar?
>Around 71% of pensioners with a disability
And?
If they have disabilities they will get benefits for them.
Plus, they would likely get attendance allowance if they are a pensioner and have disabilities, this is a benefit only available to pensioners too.
Pensioners have had it disproportionately good Vs the general public for too long.
Clearly nobody wants wee old beryl getting pneumonia because she can’t afford the heating. Do I give a single toss if old Roger and Mary need to consider going on one less holiday a year or selling some of their assets to pay their bills, no not one bit – this is a situation many families find themselves in so why should only pensioners not have to face that.
Ultimately that is why it is being means tested.
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We should all be hoping for a mild winter
The Guardian writes about it [here](https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/sep/14/780000-entitled-winter-fuel-payment-will-lose-out-cut-pension-credit):
>About 780,000 pensioners who need the winter fuel payment will lose out on it when Labour begins means-testing the benefit, according to the government’s own equality analysis.
>After the government was criticised for not carrying out a full impact assessment of the change, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) quietly released a document on Friday night which predicted that about 780,000 pensioners whose low incomes mean they are eligible for the payment will stop getting it when it becomes means-tested.
>From this winter, only pensioners who are entitled to receive pension credit or certain other benefits will continue to receive the winter fuel allowance, stripping an estimated 10 million pensioners of the tax-free payment of up to £300 a year.
>The newly released government assessment, published in response to a freedom of information request, revealed that 880,000 pensioners who are entitled to pension credit do not claim this benefit. It predicted that only about 10% of them will have taken up the credit when the changes kick in, meaning 780,000 pensioners on low incomes will miss out on the winter fuel payments they are eligible for and currently receive.
>The assessment also revealed that the changes, which the government has said are part of efforts to stabilise the economy and are expected to save about £1.3bn, would have a negative impact on the majority of pensioners with a disability and those aged over 80.
>Nearly three-quarters (71%) of disabled pensioners – about 1.6 million people – and 83% of people over 80 will lose their entitlement to the payment, the figures showed.
Of course, if the UK government hadn’t slashed the benefits of disabled and poor pensioners, [there would have been a run on the pound.](https://www.ft.com/content/d100d2cc-ff5d-4eab-9f7e-bc0eee0ab8db)
Okay now do it by income
Fucking hell screw you Labour
Given the average temperature is colder up here – and we also have an older population- this could hit Scotland harder.
Wonder what the percentages of people losing this will be per country. I can imagine wealthy pensioners in the Home Counties less impacted than poor pensioners in the highlands.
Remember, folks, we live on one of the richest islands in the world!
/s
Okay? And?
I have relatives who are over 80, and like many that age have some sort of disability, and they are richer than I could ever hope to be. And have a triple locked state pension which is rising by way above inflation this year on top.
Why would being over 80 mean you can’t afford fuel at winter? They are literally the richest age group in the country.
The majority of people who live until their 80s are less deprived so duh. You can manipulate statistics any way you want.
Disgusting of labour. Targeting the demographic they know is less likely to vote for them to squeeze a few pennies, whilst Khan bangs on about putting prisoners ahead of the homeless. Rotten fucking lot.
Jesus, the drama over this is grating. My parents are retired and have a net worth in the millions. They shouldn’t be getting winter fuel allowance, and I doubt they’d argue with that statement. In general, pensioners are the richest demographic in the UK.
If the boomers were getting the same flak us millenials get, we’d be telling them to eat less avocado toast and consider downsizing from the 4 bedroom detached they bought for 25p and a packet of crisps on a single income in 1981.
The elderly are far too powerful.
On top of that the right wing press and tories etc don’t have a lot to go after labour for
I think they’ve made the wrong decision here and was too harshly done
Where’s Sarwar?
>Around 71% of pensioners with a disability
And?
If they have disabilities they will get benefits for them.
Plus, they would likely get attendance allowance if they are a pensioner and have disabilities, this is a benefit only available to pensioners too.
Pensioners have had it disproportionately good Vs the general public for too long.
Clearly nobody wants wee old beryl getting pneumonia because she can’t afford the heating. Do I give a single toss if old Roger and Mary need to consider going on one less holiday a year or selling some of their assets to pay their bills, no not one bit – this is a situation many families find themselves in so why should only pensioners not have to face that.
Ultimately that is why it is being means tested.