Pensioners fear for their lives with an “impossible choice” of heating or eating after the winter fuel payment was cut, campaigners warn.
Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves are facing a backlash over winter fuel payment cuts (Image: Getty)
They urged Chancellor Rachel Reeves to drop her controversial plan to strip most OAPs of the handout of up to £300.
The People’s Health Trust charity has found the policy is already affecting health in the poorest communities.
Reform MP Lee Anderson accused Labour of a “shameful betrayal” of pensioners by taking the money away.
The health inequalities charity investigated the experiences of “older people in disadvantaged communities who face impossible health choices between heating and eating”.
John Hume, chiefexecutive of the trust, said: “Too many older people experiencing disadvantage are already living with energy debt and fuel poverty, forcing them into unacceptable decisions about switching on the heating for an hour or buying food.
“These are decisions no one should have to make, with implications that seriously impact their health and shorten their lives.”
He went on: “We have heard from communities that older people simply don’t know how they’re going to survive the winter without the winter fuel payment.
“For many people £200 or £300 may not seem like a lot of money – for older people living in poverty, it can quite literally be a lifeline.
“It is completely unacceptable that up to 2.5 million older people should be subjected to avoidable cold and food poverty which will lead to further health inequalities.
“The policy will place even greater pressure on the NHS and voluntary and community services over an already-pressured winter.
“It is imperative that the UK and Scottish Governments reverse this decision and learn early that any policy change needs to thoroughly consider the consequences for the health of the poorest in society.”
The charity spoke to dozens of grassroots and community organisations supporting older people and its report found that changes to the handout are causing fear, stress, anxiety and confusion.
Many organisations in the report noted there had been “no communication received by anyone as to whether they are still entitled to [the cash]”, so people turned to rumours and misinformation.
Another group reported “some older people think it’s means tested to a community not individual”.
One organisation expressed particular concern for people already suffering poor health. It noted that “individuals with chronic health conditions are likely to experience further deterioration”.
Today’s report recommends the Government reverses its decision to limit the previously universal payments to the poorest OAPs.
It also calls for any changes to the allowance to undergo a thorough equalities impact assessment.
“Vulnerable pensioners will lose hundreds of pounds this winter and will be unable to heat their homes because of Labour’s cruel decision.
“All eyes will now be on Rachel Reeves and the upcoming Budget. This is her obvious moment to scrap this cruel policy.”
The Chancellor sparked a backlash in July when she announced plans to restrict the allowance to only those on pension credit.
Sir Keir Starmer and Ms Reeves blamed the need to make savings on a £22billion black hole in the public finances left by the Tories, which they deny.
The change, which comes as energy bills went up this month, means some 10 million people lose out on the annual payments for a first-year saving of £1.3billion.
The Daily Express is campaigning to have the cut to the allowance reversed, with a crusade called SaveWinter Fuel Payments.
Lib Dem work and pensions spokesperson Steve Darling said: “It seems every day we hear more and more about just how difficult it is going to be for vulnerable pensioners this winter as a result of the Government’s cuts.
“Pressing ahead with these cuts simply cannot be allowed to happen.
“The Government must reverse their decision and ensure that the millions potentially at risk of choosing between heating and eating this winter get the support they need.”
Reform chief whip Mr Anderson has hit out at Labour for stripping most pensioners of the allowance while making bumper pay offers to striking public sector workers.
The member for Ashfield called for the foreign aid budget to be slashed with the savings spent on OAPs in Britain.
Writing in the Express, he said: “Labour are bending over backwards to appease the unions, while at the same time taking money out of thousands of pensioners’ pockets and creating a miserable winter for millions more.”
Dennis Reed from the Silver Voices campaign group accused the party’s MPs of “hiding from the wrath of their pensioner constituents” by not answering emails.
He criticised most for not attending a protest outside Parliament organised by the National Pensioners Convention and the Unite union.
He said: “Labour MPs appear so embarrassed by the Chancellor’s decision. The vast majority did not turn up to the rally and lobby on Monday to hear the case to restore the universal benefit, and many emails from older constituents on the subject are going unanswered.
“MPs must be accountable to their constituents and Silver Voices is urging its members and supporters to confront Labour MPs in their local surgeries on the need for the Budget to protect older people, and to make the MPs’ responses known in local newspapers and radio.
“The winter fuel decision was not in the Labour manifesto, never consulted on and no impact analysis has been made public.
“It is a deeply undemocratic decision which Labour MPs must be held accountable for.”
Downing Street last month said a full impact assessment of the change had not been carried out.
The Department for Work and Pensions later put out figures based on “equality analyses” which showed 71% of pensioners with a disability and 83% of those aged 80-plus would miss out.
The Government said: “We are committed to supporting pensioners – with millions set to see their state pension rise by up to £1,700 this Parliament through our commitment to the triple lock.
“Over a million pensioners will still receive the winter fuel payment, and our drive to boost pension credit take-up has already seen a 152% increase in claims. Many others will also benefit from the £150 warm home discount to help with energy bills over winter while our extension of the household support fund will help with the cost of food, heating and bills.”
