Around 10 million pensioners will feel the impact of the change to Winter Fuel Payment eligibility and higher energy bills.
Millions of people over State Pension age will feel the loss of the Winter Fuel Payments over the coming weeks as the new price cap kicks in, pushing energy bills up and putting more pressure on household budgets. Energy bills for the vast majority of people across Great Britain will rise by £149 over the next year, increasing by 10 per cent from £1,568 to £1,717.
Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said restricting the Winter Fuel Payment to those on Pension Credit was “reckless and wrong” and “spells disaster for pensioners on low and modest incomes”. Andy Manning, head of energy policy at Citizens Advice, said: “This price rise means bills are now around two-thirds higher than before the energy crisis. With record levels of energy debt, the removal of previous support and changes to the eligibility of the Winter Fuel Payment, people are in desperate need.
How To Reduce Winter Energy Bills How to check eligibility for Pension Credit Older people, or friends and family, can quickly check their eligibility and get an estimate of what they may receive by using the online Pension Credit calculator on GOV.UK here. Latest State Pension Updates How to use the Pension Credit calculator To use the calculator on GOV.UK, you will need details of:
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