State pensioners given 'even worse' update after £300 Winter Fuel Payment axed

The decision to scrap the Winter Fuel Payment for households is now EVEN WORSE because of rising inflation, experts say. Winter fuel payments were created in 1997 to help everyone above state pension age with their winter heating bills but the chancellor has announced that winter 2024 will be the first time pensioners in England and Wales will not be eligible for the payment.

Laura Suter, director of personal finance at AJ Bell, said: "Anyone who was hoping that the inflation genie is back in the bottle will be disappointed.” Ms Suter went on and said: “Energy prices are largely to blame.”

They warned her decision “to remove the payment to all but a small minority of pensioners will see millions more older people face the prospect of spending this winter in cold damp homes”. And they added: “The impact of living in cold damp homes is particularly harsh on those older people with a disability, a long-term health condition or with poor mental health.”

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The payments will be restricted to those on benefits and pension credit. Pension credit is a form of means-tested benefit, which means it's based on income and savings. To be eligible for pension credit you need to be above state pension age and have an income of less that £218.15 a week or less than £332.95 as a joint weekly income with your partner.

Your savings will also be taken into account and could mean you're still ineligible even if you're income is low. You may still be eligible despite these factors if you're disabled, care for someone or have housing costs. Greg Fell, president of the Association of Directors of Public Health, said: “Fuel poverty can lead to cold, damp living conditions, which in turn can cause an increase in illnesses, including respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease and mental health problems.“There are a number of ways the government can act to limit fuel poverty and its effects, and all these mitigations, including the winter fuel allowance, should be maximised for those most in need of support.”