More than three quarters of pensioners - equivalent to 9.2 million - spent their Winter Fuel Payment on fuel related costs last year
Published on 26 November 2024 11:00 PM
With temperatures falling and energy prices high and rising, Age UK is deeply worried for older people who’ve lost their Winter Fuel Payment this year
Charity says the Government is leaving 2.5 million[i] older people in an impossible situation this winter and must take action to safeguard them from the cold
New research carried out for Age UK has found that 77 per cent[ii] of people age 66+ in the UK - equivalent to 9.2 million - spent their Winter Fuel Payment (WFP) on fuel related costs such as heating their homes, hot water and running household appliances last year.
Age UK’s new polling revealed that pensioners (66+) spent last year’s Winter Fuel Payment in the following ways:
- A quarter (25% - equivalent to 3 million) of older people 66+ spent their WFP on hot water.
- Almost a quarter (24% - equivalent to 2.9 million) of older people 66+ spent their WFP on cooking meals.
- One in five more disadvantaged older people (C2DE) spent their WFP on food.
- One in five (19% - equivalent to 2.3 million) spent the WPF on running appliances, such as a washing machine.
The research, published soon after the Department for Work and Pensions revealed that 100,000 pensioners will be plunged into poverty in 2026/27 as a result of WFP cuts, is more evidence showing the urgent need for the Government to act to protect older people on low and modest incomes, or who face extremely high energy bills due to ill health, this winter and into the future.
Worryingly, over a third of older people (37% - equivalent to 4.4 million) aged 66 or older told Age UK that they would find it difficult to manage financially without their WFP. This proportion rose to 53% for pensioners who are not currently eligible for a WFP this year but who are receiving one or more other pensioner benefits such as PIP, Council Tax Support, Housing Benefit, Attendance Allowance or Carers Allowance – indicating that they are either likely to be on a low income or living in quite difficult circumstances due to disability, ill health or being a carer.
New findings for the Charity highlight the significant pressure being felt by many pensioners this winter. To manage financially:
- More than half 55% of pensioners (66+) – equivalent to 6.6 million - said they’d have to turn down or reduce the hours they use heating at home – increasing to 63% for more disadvantaged pensioners (C2DE).
- A quarter (25%) – equivalent to 3 million pensioners (66+) said they will have to reduce the length / number of baths or showers that they take – rising to 36% for those on other pensioner benefits.
- And 10% - equivalent to 1.2 million- said they’d have to reduce the number of hot meals they eat, rising to 15% for more disadvantaged pensioners (C2DE).
With only weeks left to put in a claim for Pension Credit and also be entitled to a WFP this year, Age UK urges anyone on a low income to check whether they are eligible for Pension Credit.
Pensioners have until Saturday 21st December (or Friday 20th December if claiming by phone) to put in a claim for Pension Credit and also qualify for a WFP this year. When making an application for Pension Credit now, it’s important for applicants to ask for their claim to be backdated for three months as this is not done automatically by the DWP. This will ensure that if their claim is successful, they will also get their WFP this year.
Through its ongoing petition, Age UK has heard from almost 570,000 campaigners sharing their concerns and worry for the months ahead. The petition has captured hundreds of thousands of people’s views and is still open for the public to sign. Here are just a few of the comments the Charity has received this month:
Melvyn, 81, told Age UK: “We struggled last year when we had a WFP, so this year is going to be harder still. We try and only use one hour of heating a day.”
Sheila, 80 said: “I recently finished 16 months of cancer treatment which left me with peripheral neuropathy, so I feel the cold very badly. I am also partially sighted so can’t drive and stuck in the house most of the time. Last winter I was paying nearly £300 per month so I am dreading this winter.”
John,87, commented: “I will have to stay in bed longer and only get up to eat.”
Caroline Abrahams CBE, Charity Director at Age UK said: “It’s no surprise to us at Age UK, and it really shouldn’t be to anyone else either, that the great majority of older people spent their Winter Fuel Payment on energy related costs last year. With fuel prices having gone up so much compared to five or ten years ago, even older people who expected to be relatively comfortable in retirement have been impacted and forced to tighten their belts. And for those without much money behind them, energy bills have become a source of real fear.
“Knowing they were going to receive their Winter Fuel Payment took some of the anxiety of unaffordable fuel bills away and this universal entitlement was highly valued by pensioners as a result. It’s quite clear from our survey results that without it this year, really significant numbers of older people will be showering or bathing less, turning their heating down or off altogether, and in some cases eating fewer hot meals.
“The Government’s policy change is already causing older people hardship and undermining their health and, as we get deeper into winter, realistically things are likely to get worse. Once again, we repeat our call to the Government to recognise the damage their decision to brutally means-test Winter Fuel Payment is causing millions of older people and to bring in measures to soften the blow.
“We note that Labour in Scotland has already pledged to reintroduce the Payment as a universal entitlement if they win office in 2026, and that the Government in Northern Ireland has decided to give every pensioner losing a WFP £100 this winter to help them with their energy bills. When will the Westminster Government face up to the fact that older people are in similar need in England and Wales as well?”
Age UK is urging any older person living on a low income or struggling with their bills to contact Age UK’s free Advice line on 0800 678 1602 to check they’re receiving all the financial support available. Lines are open 8am-7pm, 365 days a year. Alternatively, people can visit www.ageuk.org.uk/money or contact their local Age UK for information and advice.
Age UK hosts a free and anonymous Benefits Calculator which can provide an estimate of the benefits that people could be entitled to.
The Household Support Fund has been extended to help struggling households with bills and essential costs over winter. Each local council decides their own eligibility criteria – though money should be specifically set aside for older people. Age UK urges anyone who’s struggling on a low income and not eligible for Pension Credit to contact their local council to see if they’re entitled to any support via this fund.
-ENDS-
Notes to editors
More information on Pension Credit can be found in section 7.1 Age UK’s Pension Credit factsheet
Age UK is urging any older person living on a low income or struggling with their bills to contact Age UK’s free Advice line on 0800 678 1602 to check they’re receiving all the financial support available. Alternatively, people can visit www.ageuk.org.uk/money or contact their local Age UK for information and advice.
Age UK hosts a free and anonymous Benefits Calculator which can provide an estimate of the benefits that people could be entitled to.
Age UK is campaigning to save the Winter Fuel Payment for struggling pensioners. Click here to sign Age UK’s petition. For those offline, people can request a copy of the petition by writing to FREEPOST Age UK Campaigns or ask a friend or loved one to print a template of the petition and send back to FREEPOST, Age UK Campaigns
[i] Age UK analysis of DWP data published on Stat Xplore.
[ii] Kantar online polling of 1034 UK adults aged 66+ for Age UK, conducted 17th to 30th September 2024. Percentages have been scaled up to the UK age 66+ population by Age UK using Office for National Statistics mid-year population estimates for 2022.