‘Without the winter fuel payment, I will be working until I die’: Devastated pensioners reveal fears as Labour votes to cut annual payment – including some missing the cut by just £3 _ Hieuuk
Devastated pensioners have revealed their fears after Labour voted to cut winter fuel payments for millions – with one claiming it will leave her ‘working until I die’.
Labour was today cleared to scrap the annual payment for more than nine million pensioners despite Sir Keir Starmer suffering a Commons revolt.
Dawn Matthews, 68, of Hampshire, works from home for 18 hours a week in an administrative job for the NHS.
Due to her salary, she has missed out on being eligible for the Government’s pensioner’s winter fuel tax payment by less than £3.
‘I am almost 69 and I have to continue to work literally just to live. I really wish I could retire – but I think I will be working until I die,’ she told the BBC.
Ms Matthews added that the government’s cuts will leave her to ‘sit in the cold’ of her house – even though cancer has left her with a weakened immune system.
Dawn Matthews, 68, (pictured) fears the scrapped payment will leave her with a freezing cold home
Denise Mardell said she is losing out on ‘hundreds of pounds’ because of the cut payment
Other pensioners have also told how the scrapped payment will leave them in freezing homes.
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Tears and fury in the Commons as winter fuel payment axe is PASSED despite Labour backlash
Sandra, 66, of Durham, told how she had just £4 left in her account, and had to borrow money from a relative to pay the bills.
Planning how she will stay warm, she said: ‘My local library is open a couple of days a week, so I’ll go there.’
Labour was cleared to scrap the winter fuel payment for millions of pensioners today the Prime Minister suffering a Commons revolt.
The Government defeated an attempt to stop it making the handout means-tested to save money by 348 to 228 to this afternoon.
Just one Labour MP, Jon Trickett, voted with the opposition, but the Government’s majority still fell to 120 from its theoretical strength of 167 thanks to 50 more who abstained.
Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves have been highlighting the prospect of a hike to offset the loss of up to £300 from the winter fuel allowance
The leadership had threatened to suspend the whip from rebels, and seven are already out in the cold following a previous protest over the two-child benefit cap.
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Winter fuel payment axe is PASSED by the Commons despite Keir Starmer suffering Labour revolt
The result – which drew shouts of ‘shame’ in the chamber – came after a bruising debate, with warnings that panicking old people are planning to ride buses all day and go to bed at 5pm to stay warm.
Earlier, pensions minister Emma Reynolds risked stoking the row by insisting there are ‘plenty of very wealthy pensioners’ who do not need the handouts – which can be up to £300.
Kicking off the debate in the Commons, shadow work and pensions secretary Mel Stride said Sir Keir’s promises of ‘integrity’ had ‘gone out the window’ and urged Labour MPs to ‘look to your conscience’.
‘Broken promises already, that special contract that they sought to have with the British people based on integrity and decency smashed into a million pieces,’ he said.
