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UK Government accused of trying to hide ‘horrific’ impact of winter fuel squeeze

14 Sep 2024 3 minute read
Yui Mok/PA Wire

Sir Keir Starmer’s government faced accusations of trying to hide from the “horrific” impact of the decision to strip winter fuel payments from millions of pensioners.

More than 80% of people aged 80 and over will lose out, as will more than 70% of pensioners.

Even among those who should still receive the payments, worth up to £300, an estimated 780,000 will miss out because they have not claimed pension credit.

The figures were quietly slipped out on Friday night, which shadow Treasury chief secretary Laura Trott said was a “downright disgrace”.

Downing Street has said that a full impact assessment of the change, coming into effect this year, has not been carried out.

‘Equality analyses’

The Department for Work and Pensions released figures, published in response to a freedom of information request, are based on “equality analyses” which “are not impact assessments and not routinely published alongside secondary legislation”.

From this winter, only people on pension credit or certain other benefits will receive the payments, while about 10 million others are set to be stripped of the allowance.

The Government has insisted the move is necessary to help fill a “£22 billion black hole” in the public finances inherited from the Tory government.

Around 71% of those with a disability and 83% of those aged 80 or over will now miss out on the payment.

However, in its FOI response, the DWP said that while those with a disability will be disproportionately likely to retain the payment, “around 71% – 1.6 million – of people with a disability will still lose entitlement”.

And about 880,000 people currently set to lose the benefit this year are pensioners entitled to pension credit who have not claimed it, according to the analysis.

The assessment assumes a five percentage point “loss aversion” increase in pension credit take-up, which the DWP said then cuts the number of eligible pensioners failing to claim to about 780,000.

The DWP said: “The Government has followed its legal and statutory duties ahead of introducing these changes and will continue to do so.”

‘Damning’

Ms Trott said: “The publication of these analyses is a damning indictment of this entire Labour government.

“Not only do these reports confirm that thousands of pensioners will suffer this winter as a result of Rachel Reeves’ cold-hearted decision, but they were also hidden until after Labour forced their MPs to vote through this cut.

“It is a downright disgrace.

“Labour has cut winter fuel payments for 10 million pensioners knowing the horrific impact it will have, but they will not be able to hide from the consequences of it. We will bring them to task every step of the way.”

The revelations have reignited a row over the policy, which has been attacked by both unions and opposition critics as it sets out to strip about 10 million pensioners of the support with their energy bills.

The Government has said the measures are expected to save about £1.3 billion in the first year.


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Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
19 days ago

Too many similarities between Sunak’s modus and Captain and Pusser Bumble’s way of doing things…

Underhand, mean and plain nasty in a mistake laden, clumsy and deceitful fashion…

Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
19 days ago
Reply to  Mab Meirion

“Let me help you with your load” said the PM…

“There you are, you can fit another 20 kilos in there now”…

The Labour way…”God gave you two hands! “…

Ash P
Ash P
19 days ago
Reply to  Mab Meirion

I actually think Starmer is more deceitful. At least in the run up to the election Sunak seemed more open and honest about tough decisions to come. Starmer just kept harping on about how bad it was under the Conservatives, and that he was the necessary change, all without actually telling us what he was going to do.

Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
19 days ago
Reply to  Mab Meirion

‘Battle of Britain Day’…RIP James Ira Thomas ‘Tiger’ Jones, Wing Commander RAF…

Tiny
Tiny
19 days ago
Reply to  Mab Meirion

Of course they’re both informed, or perhaps instructed, by their real boss HM Treasury. An institutional relic of imperialism literally named after the place pirates stash their loot. They’re also a raging conflict of interest being both the finance ministry and the department for the economy. No wonder short-termism runs rife in the UK.

Perhaps it’s time to call in the IMF for a second opinion.

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