Cumbrian pensioners' outrage at Winter Fuel Payments

The change marks a significant reduction in the number of pensioners eligible for the benefit.

The benefit was previously available to almost everyone in the UK who was born before September 25, 1957 to help cover their heating costs.

However, from this winter only those on Pension Credit or means-tested benefits will get the Winter Fuel Payment - those on the credit will get £200 or £300 if someone is over 80.

Across the Cumberland Council area, just over 10,000 residents are set to receive the payments - down from the 115,578 who receive them now.

According to the Cumbria Community Foundation, an average of 300 deaths occur across the county each year due to the effects of cold weather.

As a result, Age UK Carlisle is hosting an advice event for pensioners who may be struggling without the Winter Fuel Payment at The Lanes on October 1, from 10am to 3pm.

All of Cumbria’s Labour MPs voted against the Conservative motion, effectively supporting the government’s plan to implement the cuts.

Carlisle MP Julie Minns explained her difficult decision to support cuts, attributing them to the financial crisis left by the Conservatives.

Julie Minns (Image: Supplied)

She emphasised the need for immediate spending cuts, including this means-testing of the winter fuel payment, to address a £22billion budget shortfall.

While acknowledging the challenges, she noted pensioners on credit would still receive full winter fuel payments and that energy bills and the state pension have both improved under Labour's measures.

77-year-old Mike from Penrith said the cut was a ‘diabolical’ policy, and while it won’t affect him personally due to his generous private pension, he fears for poorer OAPs.

“There’s a lot of people who are going to suffer because it’s a lot of money,” he said, expressing apathy at both major parties in general for ‘never coming up with solutions’.

Keir Starmer, Labour party leader

Hilda, from Carlisle, receives pension credit, but said if her Winter Fuel Payment was taken away she would ‘struggle’.

“There’s going to be an awful lot of people struggling this year, if I didn’t receive it I’d be really badly off.

“I suppose (Keir Starmer) has got to draw his horns at some point, but I didn’t think it would hit the pensioners.”

A Silloth pensioner, who chose not to be named, said he voted for the incumbent’s father in the past and is ‘very shocked’ that Markus Campbell-Savours helped remove the payment.

“Dale Campbell-Savours was very much for the people, and I’d have hopes his son would have followed suit.

“He’s now helped removed hundreds of pounds of allowance that keeps us warm.”

He said the money is ‘essential’ and added that without it his home would become a ‘prison’ where he’d have to remain in one warm spot during winter.

Carlisle resident Martin Reeves said he supports a means-tested approach: “It will be a miss for me, but I have sufficient funds to cover my fuel bills, but I know many who haven't.

Martin Reeves

“It has been an unfair payment in other ways by going to many who don't need it at all and who are wealthier than most, so I understand where the Government is coming from.”

Lifetime Labour voter Geoff from Carlisle said he disagreed with the policy, but acknowledged the ‘gap’ left by the Tories had to be filled somehow.

“I’m pleased they got in – and somebody had to do something about the gap, everyone’s got to expect that it’s going to be hard.”