POLL: Should Labour ditch cuts to winter fuel payments in this week’s Budget? Vote now _ Hieuuk
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is being urged to U-turn on cuts to the winter fuel payment when she delivers her Budget this week. Vote and join in the debate below.
POLL: Should Labour ditch cuts to Winter Fuel Payments in this week’s Budget? (Image: Getty)
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is under pressure to reverse cuts to the Winter Fuel Payment when she delivers her Budget on Wednesday.
Millions of pensioners are due to miss out on up to £300 this year, as the benefit to help cover heating costs is limited to those on Pension Credit and certain benefits.
This means just 1.5million pensioners are eligible compared to 11.4million. Around eight in ten older people with incomes just below or above the poverty threshold will be stripped of the payments this year, according to research by Age UK.
The charity fears that there will be a looming “disaster” unless there is a U-turn in the Budget this week.
The Chancellor announced the change in July, just three weeks after taking office, to help fill a £22billion spending black hole.
Ms Reeves estimates that axing the Winter Fuel Payment for all pensioners will save the Treasury £1.4billion this year, and £1.5billion next year.
If you can’t see the poll above, click here to vote
Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride wrote in the Daily Express last week: “Ministers claim those who need the Winter Fuel Payment will at least still get it and they will qualify for pension credit. It is their justification for this cruel and poorly thought-through policy.
“But this overlooks the simple fact that many pensioners who would qualify for pension credit, don’t receive it.
“And even for those that apply, it was recently revealed that one in five pension credit applications aren’t even being processed within a 10-week period.
“That means that countless vulnerable pensioners on less than £11,500 a year will miss out on this vital payment in time for the winter.”
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He also called for Ms Reeves to ditch the controversial policy in her Budget. He said: “It is becoming increasingly clear that this policy is not fit for purpose and perhaps all will not be lost.”
He added that the Budget is the “ideal time to reverse this heartless policy and restore peace of mind to millions of our pensioners”.
So what do YOU think? Should Labour ditch cuts to Winter Fuel Payments in this week’s Budget? Vote in our poll and join the debate in the comment section below.
