Keir Starmer insists pensioners will still be ‘better off’ despite scrapping Winter Fuel Payments – but thousands have poured scorn on the PM’s claim, with many worried the cuts will push elderly Brits into poverty
Despite Keir Starmer claiming pensioners would still be ‘better off’ despite scrapping Winter Fuel Payments for more than ten million elderly Brits – most of you don’t see it that way at all.
Many of you responded to our poll Do you think pensioners will be ‘better off’ despite winter fuel cuts, with thousands pouring scorn on the PM’s words. The payments – which provide support of up to £300 for those aged 66 and over – caused an outcry after chancellor Rachel Reeves announced it would now be means-tested.
Government estimates suggested the cuts would either push around 450,000 elderly people into relative poverty, and 300,000 into absolute poverty by 2030. Yet Starmer insisted pensioners will still be “better off,” thanks to the planned increase in the state pension, which he claims will be about £470 next year due to the stabilisation of the economy. He also pointed to the household support fund and warm home discount scheme as additional help.
We wanted to know what YOU thought and thousands of you responded to our poll Do you think pensioners will be ‘better off’ despite winter fuel cuts? with a whopping 8,646 saying no while just 571 said yes.
‘Labour can’t be allowed to get off Scot free’
Many of you commented on our original story, here’s what just some of you had to say:
Annchad: “The PM keeps banging on about the pensioners’ rise of £460 – has he forgotten that many OAPs are not getting so much? Depending on d.o.b, we get substantially less. He should surely think of making us all alike. When we get the annual rise we always get less after the change of pensions ruling, so we older ones are falling behind even further each year.”
Granddad2015: “After working and paying taxes for 48 years, I retired days short of getting the higher pension. Those who worked 45 years and retired a few days after me, get the full, higher pension. Plus I am a few £s too high in savings for any extra benefits, thus will lose winter warmth allowance. Others are equally affected but not MPs.”
Mertin: “When will he realise the triple lock – although very welcome – is not until April, while the £200 are needed now. Before anybody tells me to use my savings they have gone with the rise of food prices.”
Iron57: “Fuel costs are spread over the year. Stopping the winter fuel allowance to pensioners while allowing energy companies to continue hiking prices is a poor decision that will come back to haunt Labour over and over again.”
Royallysick: “Well, if they never turn their heating on they will be better off but whether they will still be alive is another matter. I am not being flippant, I am a pensioner. If more of us die as a result of the cold this winter, Labour can’t be allowed to get off Scot free.”
Saralzh: “Maybe Starmer should try living as a normal pensioner for a month. The temperature outside is 0°. I’m sitting in one room with one small heater, wrapped in a blanket and with a hot water bottle. The rest of the house is cold. Give Starmer a taste of this life. I can guarantee he won’t like it.”
Dandy 99: “The rise I will receive next April does not even cover the loss of the Winter Fuel Allowance.”
Condo: “The triple lock and any associated increase is there to keep pace with inflation, it is not interchangeable with any other cost or benefit, therefore it’s simple – the WFA will make pensioners worse off. No spin by Starmer and his cronies can avoid this fact.”
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