UK faced economic crash if winter fuel payment was not axed, Powell says
3 months, 3 weeks ago

UK faced economic crash if winter fuel payment was not axed, Powell says

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The UK could have faced a run on the pound and an economic crash if Rachel Reeves had not axed winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners to fill a black hole in the public finances, Commons Leader Lucy Powell said. “The reserves have gone to nothing, so we’re having to add up the current year that we’re in and the forthcoming years, that is very different from making a big choice to reduce the size of the state by billions and billions of pounds as that previous government did.” From this winter, the fuel payments will be restricted to the poorest pensioners, those who are on pension credit. Ms Reeves said: “The £22 billion black hole inherited from the previous governments means we are having to take tough decisions now to fix the foundations of our economy – including making the winter fuel payments available to those most at need. “So, if you know someone who could get pension credit and help with their fuel bills, now is the time to help them apply for pension credit.” Pensioners whose weekly income is below £218.15 for a single person or £332.95 for a couple are being urged to use the DWP’s online calculator to determine their eligibility for payments.

History of this topic

Widows 'worst hit' as 50,000 denied winter fuel lifeline - as Labour is slammed as 'Scrooge' by furious campaigners
3 days ago
Winter fuel payment deadline warning – what pensioners need to know
5 days, 8 hours ago
DAN HODGES: 'Pensioners will die freezing and alone', a minister confided to me about the winter fuel axe. And more Labour MPs tell me they fear worse is to come
2 weeks, 2 days ago
UK govt winter fuel decision challenged
2 weeks, 5 days ago
UK govt winter fuel decision challenged
2 weeks, 5 days ago
Labour minister Liz Kendall is urged to refund taxpayer money used to heat her second home - after axing £300 winter fuel payment to pensioners
Trending News
3 weeks, 1 day ago
Winter fuel payment claims skyrocket after Labour changes – with half rejected
3 weeks, 1 day ago
Winter fuel payments cut will drive 100,000 more pensioners into poverty, minister admits
1 month ago
Winter fuel allowance axe will leave an extra 100,000 pensioners in poverty, ministers admit
1 month ago
Rachel Reeves to face winter fuel cuts fury as protesters target her Leeds constituency
1 month, 1 week ago
Ministers looking at ‘very long’ form for winter fuel payments
1 month, 1 week ago
Labour facing legal challenge over winter fuel payments cut
1 month, 2 weeks ago
Legal Bid to Stop 'Cruel' UK Government Plan to Axe Winter Fuel Benefit
1 month, 3 weeks ago
Ministers fear 120,000 of most vulnerable pensioners will miss out on winter fuel payments
1 month, 3 weeks ago
Warning some pensioners may have to pay back winter fuel payments - here’s what you can do about it
2 months, 1 week ago
Shock analysis shows four in every five pensioners struggling with money will see winter fuel payment cut
2 months, 2 weeks ago
Winter fuel payment: Couple suing UK government over loss of benefit scared to turn on their cooker
2 months, 2 weeks ago
‘I can’t afford curtains to block out the draught’: The pensioners worst hit by the winter fuel payment cut
2 months, 2 weeks ago
Charities concerned over limiting winter fuel payments as energy prices rise
2 months, 3 weeks ago
Rachel Reeves warned winter fuel payment cuts won’t save as much money as expected
2 months, 3 weeks ago
Almost a third of population in pensioner-heavy areas at risk of losing winter fuel payment cash: Map shows where biggest concentrations of claimants live amid anger at Labour cuts
2 months, 3 weeks ago
Winter fuel payments: Labour changes explainer and other pension support available
2 months, 4 weeks ago
Pensioners stage protest against winter fuel cuts at Labour conference
3 months ago
Wes Streeting hints budget cuts will go further than axing winter fuel payment– UK politics live
3 months ago
Starmer under fresh attack for ‘unbelievably foolish’ winter fuel payment cuts
3 months, 1 week ago
How nearly 15,000 pensioners in every Labour constituency will lose their winter fuel payment if Keir Starmer presses ahead with controversial plan to strip benefit from 10 million OAPs
3 months, 1 week ago
Labour accused of ‘cruelty’ over winter fuel payment cuts as 780,000 pensioners to miss out
3 months, 1 week ago
Starmer sympathises with pensioners over winter fuel but dismisses Labour’s own claim 4,000 will die
3 months, 1 week ago
No winter fuel payments cut impact assessment was done, Starmer admits
3 months, 1 week ago
How Winter Fuel Payments are changing - and the energy bill help alternatives available for pensioners
3 months, 1 week ago
Winter fuel payment cut could kill 4,000 people, Labour research suggests
3 months, 1 week ago
Labour refuses to publish impact assessment of winter fuel payment cuts
3 months, 2 weeks ago
Winter fuel payment cut will put pensioners in hospital, Labour MPs fear
3 months, 2 weeks ago
Labour must learn from this early misstep on winter fuel payments
3 months, 2 weeks ago
Starmer insists ‘tough decision’ on limiting winter fuel allowance is necessary
3 months, 2 weeks ago
Thousands rush to claim pension credit amid winter fuel payment squeeze
3 months, 2 weeks ago
Winter fuel payment cuts leaving pensioners ‘worried sick’, MPs warned
3 months, 2 weeks ago
Pensioners will die because of winter fuel payments cut, warns Labour rebel
3 months, 2 weeks ago
Martin Lewis makes Winter Fuel Payment “plea” to all pensioners ahead of Reeves meeting
3 months, 2 weeks ago
Three 'fairer' ways to reform Winter Fuel Payments as five in six poorer pensioners stand to lose out
3 months, 2 weeks ago
Majority of pensioners below poverty line ‘could lose winter fuel payments’
3 months, 2 weeks ago
Former Labour frontbencher hits out as Starmer faces backlash over winter fuel cuts
3 months, 2 weeks ago
Watch: Chancellor Rachel Reeves questioned on Budget after Keir Starmer admitted it will be ‘painful’
3 months, 2 weeks ago
Cabinet Secretary backs Labour in ‘Tory £22bn black hole’ row
3 months, 2 weeks ago
Starmer says fuel payment squeeze will help ‘fix the foundations’ of economy
3 months, 2 weeks ago
Labour is accused of 'running scared' at growing backlash over controversial plans to axe winter fuel payments for 10 million UK pensioners
3 months, 3 weeks ago
The winter fuel dilemma is the first test of the Starmer-Reeves relationship
3 months, 3 weeks ago
Move to end universal winter fuel payments for pensioners to be extended to NI
3 months, 3 weeks ago
Davey: Cutting winter fuel allowance is Government’s ‘first big mistake’
3 months, 3 weeks ago

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