My elderly mother can’t afford heating – she needs the winter fuel allowance
4 days, 2 hours ago

My elderly mother can’t afford heating – she needs the winter fuel allowance

The Independent  

After a damp and drizzly start to the year, the weather in the UK has taken a dramatic turn and we’ve firmly entered the first real cold snap of 2025 – which not only prompts concern for our own health and safety but also the wellbeing of our more vulnerable loved ones. Living alone in a privately rented flat and having had her winter fuel allowance reduced has been a real cause of concern for Mum – and now, more so than ever, it’s starting to weigh heavily on her mind. Living in cold or damp conditions could cause arthritis flare-ups and other physical or mental health issues, so the fact that she’s worried about heating her home due to rising energy costs is incredibly concerning. It is heartbreaking hearing a loved one admit that she’s scared of switching on her heating too often and now takes two hot water bottles and extra blankets to bed in the evenings.

Winter Cold Her Home Mum  health  friends  loved  needs  living  heating  shes  cant  fuel  mother  conditions  winter  cold  allowance  afford  elderly

History of this topic

Voters will thank Labour for scrapping winter fuel payments, Wes Streeting claims
3 days, 19 hours ago

Voters will thank Labour for scrapping winter fuel payments, Wes Streeting claims

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The public will thank Sir Keir Starmer for scrapping winter fuel …

My elderly mother lives alone and can’t afford heating – and there are many more like her
4 days, 22 hours ago

My elderly mother lives alone and can’t afford heating – and there are many more like her

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy After a …

Wes Streeting says pensioners should ‘layer up’ and put the heating on as millions struggle without winter fuel payment
5 days, 17 hours ago

Wes Streeting says pensioners should ‘layer up’ and put the heating on as millions struggle without winter fuel payment

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. open image in gallery Health secretary Wes Streeting has told pensioners to ‘layer up and …

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
1 month 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

Daily Mail  

It will begin with an unanswered knock on the door. But among the Cabinet, Labour MPs and party activists, there is a growing belief the decision to unexpectedly axe pensioners’ £300 winter fuel allowance has become a ticking timebomb under Sir Keir Starmer’s fledgling premiership. I have yet to find a single person within Labour’s ranks who genuinely believes in …

UK govt winter fuel decision challenged
1 month ago

UK govt winter fuel decision challenged

China Daily  

A snow plough clears the snow during Storm Bert, along George Street in Edinburgh, Scotland, Britain, November 23, 2024. Married senior citizens Peter and Florence Fanning launched a legal challenge against the Scottish and United Kingdom governments on Wednesday, over their decision to stop helping most retired people with their winter fuel bills. The Fannings' legal challenge, which is being …

UK govt winter fuel decision challenged
1 month ago

UK govt winter fuel decision challenged

China Daily  

A snow plough clears the snow during Storm Bert, along George Street in Edinburgh, Scotland, Britain, November 23, 2024. Married senior citizens Peter and Florence Fanning launched a legal challenge against the Scottish and United Kingdom governments on Wednesday, over their decision to stop helping most retired people with their winter fuel bills. The Fannings' legal challenge, which is being …

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
1 month, 1 week 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

Daily Mail  

The Cabinet Minister responsible for slashing Winter Fuel Payments for millions of pensioners last night faced calls to return money she claimed for her own energy bills from the taxpayer. This is an emergency situation - and this news makes me even more angry.’ Labour MP Liz Kendall is being urged to return taxpayers' money used to heat her second …

Keir Starmer warned that elderly people ‘are going to die’ as fears mount over winter fuel cuts
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Keir Starmer warned that elderly people ‘are going to die’ as fears mount over winter fuel cuts

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Sir Keir Starmer has been warned “people are going to die” …

Winter fuel payments cut will drive 100,000 more pensioners into poverty, minister admits
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Winter fuel payments cut will drive 100,000 more pensioners into poverty, minister admits

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Cutting winter fuel payments for pensioners will drive 100,000 more into …

Thousands forced into poverty by winter fuel squeeze, Government estimates
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Thousands forced into poverty by winter fuel squeeze, Government estimates

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “Given the dire state of the public finances, it’s right that we target support …

Winter fuel allowance axe will leave an extra 100,000 pensioners in poverty, ministers admit
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Winter fuel allowance axe will leave an extra 100,000 pensioners in poverty, ministers admit

Daily Mail  

Scrapping the winter fuel allowance will leave an extra 100,000 pensioners in poverty, ministers admitted today. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall revealed the estimate for the impact of the controversial policy in a letter to MPs Internal modelling shows that the move will increase numbers in 'relative' poverty after housing costs by 50,000 this year and next, and 100,000 …

Ministers fear 120,000 of most vulnerable pensioners will miss out on winter fuel payments
2 months, 1 week ago

Ministers fear 120,000 of most vulnerable pensioners will miss out on winter fuel payments

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email 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. But they have urged less well-off pensioners to apply for …

Experts not convinced Government will save cash by limiting winter fuel payments
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Experts not convinced Government will save cash by limiting winter fuel payments

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The number of pensioners in receipt of winter fuel allowance is set to fall …

Warning some pensioners may have to pay back winter fuel payments - here’s what you can do about it
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Warning some pensioners may have to pay back winter fuel payments - here’s what you can do about it

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email 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. Many are unaware that changes in circumstances may force them …

Shock analysis shows four in every five pensioners struggling with money will see winter fuel payment cut
3 months ago

Shock analysis shows four in every five pensioners struggling with money will see winter fuel payment cut

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email 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 }} Four in every …

Charities concerned over limiting winter fuel payments as energy prices rise
3 months, 1 week ago

Charities concerned over limiting winter fuel payments as energy prices rise

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 Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The increase in the energy …

Charities concerned over limiting winter fuel payments as energy prices rise
3 months, 1 week ago

Charities concerned over limiting winter fuel payments as energy prices rise

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 Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The increase to the energy …

Winter fuel payments: Labour changes explainer and other pension support available
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Winter fuel payments: Labour changes explainer and other pension support available

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email 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. “With pensioners also losing the cost-of-living payments they’ve received over …

Labour accused of ‘cruelty’ over winter fuel payment cuts as 780,000 pensioners to miss out
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Labour accused of ‘cruelty’ over winter fuel payment cuts as 780,000 pensioners to miss out

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Labour is facing growing pressure over its planned winter fuel payment …

How Winter Fuel Payments are changing - and the energy bill help alternatives available for pensioners
3 months, 4 weeks ago

How Winter Fuel Payments are changing - and the energy bill help alternatives available for pensioners

Daily Mail  

Hundreds of thousands of pensioners will lose out on Winter Fuel Payments worth up to £300 each this winter - but there is other energy bill help still available. Losing the Winter Fuel Payment is a blow to pensioners, but the good news is that other energy bill help is available for retirees. Eating or heating: Charities for the elderly …

Winter fuel payment cut could kill 4,000 people, Labour research suggests
3 months, 4 weeks ago

Winter fuel payment cut could kill 4,000 people, Labour research suggests

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email 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 }} Thousands of pensioners …

Labour refuses to publish impact assessment of winter fuel payment cuts
3 months, 4 weeks ago

Labour refuses to publish impact assessment of winter fuel payment cuts

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email 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. Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell is among the seven MPs …

Pensioner, 70, says he is 'scared for the winter' when he won't be able to pay for heating - as Labour prepares to scrap winter fuel allowance from millions of retirees
4 months ago

Pensioner, 70, says he is 'scared for the winter' when he won't be able to pay for heating - as Labour prepares to scrap winter fuel allowance from millions of retirees

Daily Mail  

A pensioner has told how he is 'scared for the winter' because he can't afford to put the heating on, as Labour prepares to scrap the winter fuel allowance from millions. Simon Moss, a 70-year-old retired customer service assistant, is facing a harsh winter ahead in his cold housing association bungalow He is one of 11.8 million people in the …

Winter fuel payment cuts leaving pensioners ‘worried sick’, MPs warned
4 months ago

Winter fuel payment cuts leaving pensioners ‘worried sick’, MPs warned

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Pensioners are “worried sick” about how they will heat their …

A lonely, cold winter lies ahead for pensioners... but not our MPs
4 months ago

A lonely, cold winter lies ahead for pensioners... but not our MPs

The Independent  

Not only am I to find extra money for fuel payments this winter, but I am now also having to pay a £56 charge for the collection of my green bin. Bridget Bartlett Address supplied Net zero is compromising our country The UK and Scottish government’s drive towards net zero targets is a misguided endeavour that places hypothetical environmental benefits …

Three 'fairer' ways to reform Winter Fuel Payments as five in six poorer pensioners stand to lose out
4 months ago

Three 'fairer' ways to reform Winter Fuel Payments as five in six poorer pensioners stand to lose out

Daily Mail  

Winter Fuel Payment reforms could be made fairer, experts say, as current government plans mean five in six pensioners below the poverty line stand to lose the benefit. Webb, now a partner at consultants Lane Clark and Peacock and This is Money's resident pensions expert, said Winter Fuel Payment reforms could be changed to be fairer to poorer pensioners. Keeping …

Majority of pensioners below poverty line ‘could lose winter fuel payments’
4 months ago

Majority of pensioners below poverty line ‘could lose winter fuel payments’

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy About five out of every six pensioners living below the …

The winter fuel dilemma is the first test of the Starmer-Reeves relationship
4 months, 1 week ago

The winter fuel dilemma is the first test of the Starmer-Reeves relationship

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Most Labour …

Winter Fuel Payment: Martin Lewis slams changes as he urges Reeves to “rethink”
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Winter Fuel Payment: Martin Lewis slams changes as he urges Reeves to “rethink”

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Money guru Martin Lewis has hit out at the government’s …

‘Disaster’: Labour urged to U-turn on scrapping universal winter fuel payment after energy price cap jumps
4 months, 2 weeks ago

‘Disaster’: Labour urged to U-turn on scrapping universal winter fuel payment after energy price cap jumps

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. With pensioners also losing the cost-of-living payments they’ve received over the last two years we …

The winter fuel payment is a lifeline for the elderly – we must defend it
4 months, 2 weeks ago

The winter fuel payment is a lifeline for the elderly – we must defend it

The Independent  

As a consultant geriatrician, I am extremely concerned with the recent decision to remove winter fuel payments for millions of older people. We have a collective duty of care to protect vulnerable adults, and adjusting the winter fuel payment will do the exact opposite. I am concerned that cutting the winter fuel payment will put further pressure on an already …

Shame on Labour for leaving pensioners like me in the cold
5 months ago

Shame on Labour for leaving pensioners like me in the cold

The Independent  

While I am fully in agreement that the winter fuel allowance is not completely fair as there are retired people who are wealthy enough to not need it, I am concerned that pensioners like myself who are not in receipt of pension credit will lose out! Annie W Address supplied Means testing winter fuel payments is a much-needed step I …

Winter Fuel Payments: Labour urged to undo change for millions of pensioners
5 months ago

Winter Fuel Payments: Labour urged to undo change for millions of pensioners

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email 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 }} A new campaign …

Rachel Reeves will be forced to U-turn on winter fuel means tests, warns former minister
5 months, 1 week ago

Rachel Reeves will be forced to U-turn on winter fuel means tests, warns former minister

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email 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 }} Chancellor Rachel Reeves …

Winter fuel payments scrapped for people not on benefits or pension credits
5 months, 1 week ago

Winter fuel payments scrapped for people not on benefits or pension credits

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 Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Rachel Reeves has announced that …

Labour raids 10MILLION pensioners... and tax hikes ARE coming: Reeves strips most OAPs of winter fuel payments and flags 'difficult decisions' in Budget as she blames Tories for £22bn hole in public f
5 months, 1 week ago

Labour raids 10MILLION pensioners... and tax hikes ARE coming: Reeves strips most OAPs of winter fuel payments and flags 'difficult decisions' in Budget as she blames Tories for £22bn hole in public f

Daily Mail  

Rachel Reeves raided pensioners and signalled tax hikes are coming today as she claimed there is a £22billion hole in the public finances. Speaking at a press conference tonight, Rachel Reeves defended limiting winter fuel payments to only those on benefits while hiking junior doctors pay The Chancellor said she had no choice but to strip all pensioners who do …

Winter fuel allowance could be scaled back to cover triple lock costs – report
1 year, 3 months ago

Winter fuel allowance could be scaled back to cover triple lock costs – report

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 Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Rishi Sunak may cut the …

Almost 5,000 excess deaths due to cold homes last winter as Treasury fails to give out £440m in energy support
1 year, 4 months ago

Almost 5,000 excess deaths due to cold homes last winter as Treasury fails to give out £440m in energy support

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Almost 5,000 excess winter deaths were caused by cold homes …

‘Life or death:’ As Britons buckle under the cost of living crisis, many resort to ‘warm banks’ for heat this winter
2 years ago

‘Life or death:’ As Britons buckle under the cost of living crisis, many resort to ‘warm banks’ for heat this winter

CNN  

London CNN — In a community center in central London, a young child plays in a makeshift area as her caregiver rocks her stroller and chats to a friend. “Poverty has been building up over the last dozen years and getting worse,” says Marmot, director of University College London’s Institute of Health Equity. “There’s surprisingly lots of people that do …

How wealthy pensioners struggle to opt out of the winter fuel payment
2 years, 7 months ago

How wealthy pensioners struggle to opt out of the winter fuel payment

The Independent  

Only 186 of more than 11 million recipients of the winter fuel payment successfully opted out of the benefit last season, a freedom of information request has revealed, prompting calls for an overhaul of the benefit. The amount of winter fuel payment received per person ranges from £100 and £300 and is designed to specifically help pay energy bills in …

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