Some estimates suggest as many as 4,000 of older people may die as a result of medical conditions made worse by living in a cold and damp house
The Unite union, which is a major financial backer of Labour MPs, is launching a legal challenge to overturn the abolition of the Winter Fuel Payment. The abolition of the payment, which is worth £100-£300, has left 10 million pensioners out of pocket ahead of the winter.
Unite has launched a judicial review process on behalf of the union and its retired members to overturn the government’s decision to cut the winter fuel payment to all but the poorest pensioners. It has sent a pre-action protocol letter to Liz Kendal the secretary of state at the Department for Works and Pensions , requesting the government reverse the removal the Winter Fuel Payment and repeal the regulations introduced in August 2024.
“Given the failure to rectify this in the budget, Unite has now commenced judicial review proceedings challenging the legality of the policy. It is not too late for Labour to register the hurt that this cruel policy has caused, step back from picking the pockets of pensioners and do the right thing.”
• Under the Equality Act there is a Public Sector Equality Duty to consider the impact of the decision particularly on the disabled who have higher heating costs. • The Human Rights Act requires particular areas of vulnerability to be taken into account, which could include the impact of the policy on older people, those with a disability and potentially on race.
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