Freedom of Information response published by Government on Friday reveals groups of elderly people most likely to be affected
Seven out of 10 disabled pensioners will lose their winter fuel payments because of Rachel Reeves’ cuts, documents have revealed after Labour was forced to publish an equality assessment.
A Freedom of Information response published by the Government on Friday night revealed the groups of elderly people most likely to be affected by the Chancellor’s decision.
A total of 1.6 million disabled people who currently receive the benefit – about 71 per cent – will lose out, alongside 2.7 million people aged 80 and above and 7.3 million aged between 66 and 79.
Meanwhile, of the total number of people who previously received winter fuel payments, around 4.6 million who will lose out live alone.
The assessment concludes that couples are most likely to lose out, and that men were marginally more likely to be affected than women because they are less likely to be on the lowest incomes.
On Friday evening, Sir Steve Webb, a former pensions minister and partner at pension consultants LCP, criticised the Government for having to have the information dragged from it via Freedom of Information laws.
He said: “It is shocking that this impact assessment has appeared late on a Friday evening, three days after MPs voted on the issue. The Government’s own figures show that seven in 10 disabled people over pension age will lose their winter fuel payment, and more than eight in 10 of those aged 80 or over.
“The Treasury confirms our analysis that those who miss out on pension credit or are just a few pounds above the cut-off are likely to be significantly negatively affected. This information should have been in front of MPs when they decided whether to support the policy.”
It comes after Sir Keir Starmer was accused of covering up official estimates of how many elderly people could die this winter after being denied the allowance.
Downing Street confirmed that no impact assessment for the decision was ever carried out. Instead, a spokesman has said the only piece of work done was an equality assessment required by law, and that is the one published by the Department for Work and Pensions on Friday.
Of the Chancellor’s decision, the assessment says: “This policy will reduce the numbers entitled from around 12 million to 1.7 million in the first year… No transitional protection is assumed. The rationale would be to focus support on those pensioners with the lowest incomes.
“It would be important to continue to promote take-up of pension credit in this context, since the main criticism of Government in this respect is that one third of eligible households do not claim it.”
Impact assessments of policies are routinely published by the Government, and ministers had previously suggested one for winter fuel payments would be made public “in due course”.
Ms Reeves announced the cut to winter fuel payments for pensioners in July as she warned about a £22 billion “black hole” in the public finances.
It will mean people in England and Wales not in receipt of pension credit or other means-tested benefits will lose out under the changes, saving more than £1 billion this year.
Although a Tory attempt to annul the regulations provoked a Labour backbench rebellion, the measures are expected to come into force next week.
A government spokesman said: “While it is not routine to publish advice as part of the development of policy, we have published the equality analysis on winter fuel payment eligibility.
“Our focus is on ensuring that those who should be claiming this support are receiving it alongside the wider support for vulnerable households, including the warm homes discount worth £150 and household support fund to help people with the cost of living and energy bills.
“Over a million pensioners will continue to receive the winter fuel payment and through our commitment to protect the triple lock, those on the full new state pension will receive an extra £400 – twice the average winter fuel payment.”
