Labour faces fresh fury as officials admit seven in ten disabled pensioners will lose out from slashed winter fuel payments _ HIeuuk
Labour is facing fresh fury over slashing winter fuel payments after officials admitted that seven out of 10 disabled pensioners would lose out – as well as 780,000 elderly people who could qualify to keep the payments of up to £300 each.
The Department for Work and Pensions’ so-called ‘equalities analyses’ were published on Friday under Freedom of Information rules, despite the Government insisting it had not done an official ‘impact assessment’ on the effect of the cuts.
The analyses said that although those with a disability were more likely than other old people to retain the winter aid, about 71 per cent would still lose their entitlement.
They also said that, while many people could retain the aid by applying for the separate Pension Credit, around 780,000 weren’t expected to submit a claim.
The Department for Work and Pensions’ so-called ‘equalities analyses’ were published on Friday under Freedom of Information rules
The analyses said that although those with a disability were more likely than other old people to retain the winter aid, about 71 per cent would still lose their entitlement (Stock Image)
Last night, Labour MPs privately asked why the DWP information was not made public before Tuesday’s Commons vote in which more than 50 of them did not take part and one openly rebelled against the plan.
A Labour MP told The Mail on Sunday last night that if Sir Keir Starmer was aware of the DWP estimates prior to the vote, he was adding ‘a level of duplicity to cruelty towards the country’s pensioners’.
Overall, around 10 million pensioners are set to lose winter aid payments.
