Age UK’s Urgent Call to Save the Winter Fuel Payment
Within just 48 hours, almost 100,000 signatures have poured in for Age UK’s emergency petition. The message is crystal clear: the Government must stop means‑testing the Winter Fuel Payment (WFP) before the next winter hits.
Why the WFP is a lifeline for millions of pensioners
- Nearly 2 million struggling pensioners will miss out on up to £300 that they rely on to keep heating bills within reach.
- The group split into three main categories:
- People who just miss Pension Credit because their modest incomes sit just above the threshold (often a tiny occupational pension). Many of them are women.
- Those with high energy demands due to disability or chronic illness, or living in poorly insulated homes – about 200,000 retirees.
- Most embarrassing: a million pensioners who are actually eligible but never claim the credit—an entrenched lapse that keeps a third of those entitled from actually getting the money.
Age UK warns that the decision to double‑check means will not just reduce the WFP; it will also wipe out two major support streams that kept many pensioners warm last season:
- The Cost of Living payments have been withdrawn, cutting back up to £600 in support.
- The Household Support Fund ends in September.
Energy bills are climbing, and retirees are cold‑willing
Today, an average household is paying around £1,568 a year for heating—27 % higher than it was in winter 2021/22. This trend is expected to sharpen in October with a potential rise in the energy price cap.
In the words of concerned retirees:
- Diana (age 68) says, “With limited mobility I sit most of the day. I’m just over the Pension Credit threshold; the WFP gave me the peace of mind not to worry about staying warm.”
- Trudy (67) worries that her husband, who has a heart‑threatening low body temperature after cancer treatment, will struggle “without our Winter Fuel Payment.” Even at the start of July, he still used an electric blanket to stay cozy.
- Alexander (80) fears that without the WFP, he and his wife, who has both heart disease and diabetes, will be unable to keep the house warm, putting both their lives at risk.
- Shirley (76) echoes the same worry: “My husband’s heart failure means we must keep heating on even if it costs us dearly.”
Age UK’s position and the next steps
Caroline Abrahams, CBE, the Director of Age UK, states:
“The speed with which people signed our petition—under the tallest temperature of the year—shows how deeply the public feels about this decision. We believe means‑testing is wrong because well‑off retirees barely notice the cut, but two million low‑income pensioners will be thrown into the cold. They may not afford to stay adequately warm, which could lead to immense anxiety, distress, and even damaging health outcomes.”
“Beyond the WFP, pensioners will miss out on the Cost of Living payments and the Household Support Fund. Energy bills are already high and could rise again with the October cap increase.”
“Some argue that the means‑testing approach is fair, but the evidence shows it is not protecting those who need it most. Age UK will continue campaigning to get the government to rethink this decision.”
Signing the petition online or offline
To sign online, click here (note: no link, just a placeholder text). For a paper version, simply ask a friend or family member to print the template or write to FREEPOST Age UK Campaigns.
Everyone’s involvement matters. The next winter could be a frost‑filled struggle for many retirees—let’s rally together to keep the WFP alive.
