Misery of Winter Fuel Payment cuts revealed

Three in four pensioners - equivalent to 9.1 million - admitted they were cold in their own homes in January.

Age UK delivered 650,056 strong petition to No.10 Downing Street urging the Government to do more to help older people stay warm at home.

Almost 30,221 petition signatures came from people in the North East.

New UK wide research for the Charity Age UK has revealed that 3 in 4 (75% - equivalent to 9.1 million) aged 66 and over said that their homes were colder than they would like them to be some, most of or all of the time.

For those pensioners on low to modest household incomes of £20,000 or less, a massive one in three (35%) said their home was too cold most or all of the time. 

A similar proportion of older private renters, 1 in 3 (34%), also said their home was cold most or all of the time. 

Last week, Age UK delivered its 650,056 strong Save the Winter Fuel Payment for struggling pensioners petition to No.10 Downing Street, London.  Almost 30,221 signatures came from people in the North East.

To highlight the Charity’s petition hand-in, Age UK released new findings showing the pressures being felt by older people this winter.  Two in five (41%) pensioners said that they had recently had to cut back on heating or powering their home – equivalent to 5 million.

Nearly half (48%) of people aged 66+ revealed they were worried about being able to heat their homes when they wanted to, and 44% told Age UK they’re worried about the impact of energy prices on their health – noticeably higher than last year (January 2024) when 1 in 3 (33%) said they were worried about this. 

As part of its campaign, Age UK North Tyneside supported a nationwide petition calling for the Government to halt their proposed change to the Winter Fuel Payment (WFP) and think again.  The Age UK network strongly opposed the cut to the WFP and repeatedly warned that at least 2.5 million older people would struggle without it and would not be able to afford to stay adequately warm in their homes.

New research for the Charity Age UK shows that there is broad public support for policy changes to help older people to stay warm.  Eighty-five per cent (85%) agreed that pensioners with a disability should get the Winter Fuel Payment and 72% thought that the Government should provide additional funding to households on lower incomes so they can gain access to household energy efficiency improvements.

Dawn McNally, Group Chief Executive at Age UK North Tyneside said:  “This is the first January since the Government decided to means-test the Winter Fuel Payment (WFP) and it is deeply troubling  that so many older people are saying they are cold in their own homes, some, most or all of the time. 

“Age UK’s WFP petition, supported by 650,056 people shows the strength of support behind our Winter Fuel Payment campaign and we hope the Government will listen and commit to further action so we do not see a repeat of this next year.   

“We cannot and we must not go through this all over again next winter. Energy prices continue to rise and struggling older people must be better protected now and in the years to come.

“This winter has shown beyond any doubt that older people on low incomes and in vulnerable circumstances need more support with high energy prices that are expected to remain high for years to come, and the Government must respond.”

Age UK’s Save the Winter Fuel Payment for struggling pensioners petition has captured hundreds of thousands of people’s views and experiences and shows the depth of feeling among the older population about the policy change.

Age UK deeply regrets the Government’s decision to reform the WFP in the way it did and at such short notice. It is hugely concerned about the impact this is having on older people’s health this winter. It believes the Government can take further action to mitigate the impacts on older people and the NHS. 

The Charity is calling on the Government to:

• Extend eligibility for the WFP to other pensioner benefits, including Housing Benefit, Council Tax Support, Attendance Allowance (and other disability benefits) and Carer’s Allowance.  
• Adopt a sustained and strategic approach to tackle the persistently low take-up of Pension Credit and other pensioner benefits. 
• Implement an energy social tariff which provides a unit-based discount to those with low-incomes, disabilities and for carers. It should also facilitate the continued funding of independent energy advice and support services.
• Bring forward the Warm Homes Plan as soon as possible, and ensuring those living in cold, damp and mouldy homes are prioritised for support.