Winter fuel allowance

Here at Age UK Bradford District, alongside the whole Age UK Network, we are incredibly concerned about the decision to means test the Winter Fuel Payment and it’s very real adverse impact on older people. 

Put simply we just don't think it's fair to remove the payment from the 2.5 million pensioners on low incomes who badly need it, and to do it so quickly this winter, at the same time as energy bills are rising by 10%.The Government has also tried to suggest that the increase in State Pension for older people next year as a result of the Triple Lock means there's no need to worry about how they will cope now, but that won't help anyone this winter and most pensioners will not benefit to the extent being suggested - either because they are on the old State Pension which attracts less of an increase, or because they don't qualify for a full State Pension in the first place. 

Winter is coming and we fear it will be a deeply challenging one for millions of older people, including thousands across Bradford, Keighley & Shipley 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. Indeed the very real fears and anger of many pensioners about this decision is an issue they are raising across Age UK Bradford District’s six Community Hubs at an intensity we have not seen on any other issue.  As a charity we will do everything we can to help them, but with so many in need and no extra support on offer from the Government at the moment it's looking like an incredibly uphill task. 

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, especially given the impacts this will have on the NHS, GP’s, Adult Social Care and other government funded services as well as the VCS. We and many others are certain that it is not, and that's why we at Age UK Bradford District 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. 

We urge the government to provide support for those many people that will be adversely affected.