Age UK’s Equality Impact Assessment of cuts to Winter Fuel Payments: Age Cymru statement

It’s appalling that more than 86% of the pensioners in Wales living in poverty or just above it will no longer receive Winter Fuel Payments this winter, it is the highest proportion of any nation or region in the UK. This equates to more than 100,000 people, many of whom are already facing tough challenges such as living with a disability, or who are living alone. They are also more likely to be living in homes that are older and harder to heat. 

We need the Westminster Government to reverse its decision to limit payments to those claiming Pension Credit, particularly here in Wales where more than 56,000 people who are eligible for Pension Credit are not claiming it. 

We’ve been hearing from people in Wales about how they’ll really struggle without the payments with some cutting down on food, heating, and hot water. And we are hearing from people with long term health conditions who must have a warm home, so have told us that they will have to cut back on food.   

In Age Cymru’s 2024 annual survey of more than 1300 older people across Wales, we heard that almost half of older people found the cost of living to be a challenge during the last 12 months, and more than half said they had issues with their physical health. This will only worsen with cuts to this vital financial support during the winter months.  

If the Westminster Government presses ahead with the change, then at the very least it must widen the Winter Fuel Payments by automatically giving it to those receiving Housing Benefit, Council Tax Support, Personal Independence Allowance, Attendance Allowance, and Carers Allowance. 

Quotes from Wales responding to the question: How will you or your loved one cope with up to £300 less this winter?   

• It will be a huge struggle to make do on my pension. I lost my husband two years ago and with a single pension coming in it is a constant worry on how I am going to pay my bills. 

• We will have to have the heating off more and find ways of cutting down on cooking, heating and hot water. Because of health reasons this is going to be really difficult. 

 This payment makes a real difference to my winter energy costs in that I have less need to reduce the temperature in my flat. I have medical problems that mean I spend most of my time inside. 

 We live in a rural community off mains gas. Our heating is oil fired and the winter fuel payment paid for a sixth of a tank of oil. My wife has chronic kidney disease and feels the cold terribly, so the payment certainly made things easier for us. 

 I am chronically sick and need a warm home. Without the help I will not be able to keep warm enough to have a quality of life. I will have to reduce eating. 

Ends.