Campaigners warned pensioner deaths will be even higher than feared after shock research found winter fuel cuts will stop them turning on the heating.

Nearly two million bill payers say they will keep their radiators off this winter – double the number last year.

Pensioners will keep the heating off after winter fuel cuts this year (Image: Getty)

More than half blame rising living costs, while a quarter of over-65s who will take the drastic step said it was as a result of being stripped of their winter fuel payments.

Dennis Reed, director of Silver Voices, said the research “confirms our worst fears” about what will happen as a result of the cuts.

“It’s a dangerous move to take if you are an older person with conditions because they get worse if you are cold.

“I’m afraid the estimates so far that up to 4,000 more people might die this winter will have to be reassessed.”

Research for Uswitch.com found 1.7 million households do not intend to turn on their heating this winter – nearly double the 972,000 who said the same last year.

Another million people said they will only switch in on from December to help keep costs down.

But a cold snap last week has seen six million people already use their central heating.

Energy Saving Trust guidelines recommend heating your home to between 18C and 21C during winter.

But one in six homes are planning to set their thermostats below the recommended levels to save money.

Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, warned of “disaster” unless the government acts.

She added: “This new research confirms what we are hearing from older people: many on low and modest incomes are planning to ration their heating this winter because they are frightened they can’t afford not to, a situation made much worse by the Government’s decision to means-test Winter Fuel Payment, at the same time as average energy bills are rising by 10%.

“For an older person to be forced to live in a cold home is deeply worrying because it’s very bad for their health, especially if they are living with lung or heart conditions, or are very frail. “The consequences for them could be severe and it’s certain that we’ll see more older people coming into hospital this winter as a result – the last thing they or the NHS needs.

“Lots of reasonable people think means-testing Winter Fuel Payment is fair because they assume it’s the technical term for taking this benefit away from pensioners who are extremely well off.

“Sadly, the approach the Government is taking is much more brutal, because pretty much everyone except those whose annual incomes are lower than about £11.500 if they are single, or about £17,300 if they are a couple, will be immediately disqualified.”

Labour is axing the universal allowance, which is £200 for pensioners under 80 and £300 for those over, to save £1.5 billion

Instead only retirees who receive pension credit or other means-tested benefits will receive payments this year.

The Express crusade to save the payment has been supported by MPs from across the Commons.

Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey insisted he will fight the cuts during his closing speech to the party’s autumn conference.

He told the gathering in Brighton: “So we will cut through the Government’s doom and gloom with our ambition for our country.

“We will scrutinise their plans carefully, and strive to improve them. And we will oppose them if we think they’ve got it wrong.

“Like their decision to strip the Winter Fuel Payment from millions of struggling pensioners, just when energy bills are set to rise again this winter.”

The Energy Saving Trust estimates that people can save 10% on their heating bills for every degree they turn down their thermostats, although it is recommended that people do not set them lower than 18C.

Almost four million households are setting their thermostats at or above 22C, according to the research carried out by Opinium for the comparison website Uswitch.

But two in five households (43%) will only turn the heating on if they are too cold while 31% will only heat some rooms in their home, the poll suggests.

Energy expert for the service Will Owen said: “It’s deeply concerning to see how many households plan to get through winter without heating due to financial struggles.

“Spending winter in a cold home can be a health risk and households should keep the temperature at safe levels.

“People are advised to set their thermostats to between 18°C and 21°C, so households should try to keep within this range even when trying to save money.

“Electric blankets are a good way to keep warm, and cost a lot less to run than electric heaters.

“You can set a schedule for when your heating goes on and off so you only warm your home up when you need to, and turning down radiator valves in rooms you are not using means you are not heating them unnecessarily.”