Seven out of ten disabled pensioners stand to lose £300 in energy bill assistance through the Winter Fuel Allowance.
DWP Confirms Winter Fuel Payment Cuts Will Hit 1.6 Million Disabled Pensioners
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has quietly confirmed that the decision to introduce means testing for the Winter Fuel Payment will disproportionately affect disabled retirees, reports BirminghamLive.
DWP data reveals that 1.6 million disabled individuals will be excluded from the benefit, making up nearly 71% of all disabled pensioners. Additionally, 2.7 million people aged 80 and over, along with 7.3 million individuals between 66 and 79, will no longer qualify for the payment.
4.7 million people who are projected to lose payments live alone, which may exacerbate the financial strain they face. Sir Steve Webb, former Liberal Democrat pensions minister, said: "It is shocking that this impact assessment has appeared late on a Friday evening, three days after MPs voted on the issue.
Age UK Criticises Government Over Winter Fuel Payment Cuts for Disabled Pensioners
Caroline Abrahams from Age UK, a leading charity, pointed out that the Government's data shows significant cuts to Winter Fuel Payments for disabled pensioners. She stated, "The Government’s own figures show that seven in 10 disabled people over pension age will lose their winter fuel payment, and more than eight in 10 of those aged 80 or over."
She explained: "The reality is that driving through this policy as the Government is doing will make millions of poor pensioners poorer still and we are baffled as to why some Ministers are asserting that this is the right thing to do. We and many others are certain that it is not, and that's why we will continue to stand with the pensioners who can't afford to lose their payment and campaign for them to be given more Government support.
"Meanwhile, winter is coming and we fear it will be a deeply challenging one for millions of older people who have previously relied on their Winter Fuel Payment to help pay their energy bills and who have no obvious alternative source of funds on which to draw."