Analysis by the charity found that 82% of pensioners living below or just above the poverty line will lose the Winter Fuel Payment as a result of the Government’s decision to means-test the benefit.
This includes “huge numbers” of older people who are aged over 80, disabled, living alone, and female, and whose incomes are so low that they bring them into this group.
Ministers announced in July that from this winter onwards, only pensioners claiming Pension Credit, or certain other benefits, would receive the money to help with energy bills.
Age UK has called on the Government to take action in the Budget to avert a potential disaster for many pensioners this winter.
The charity accused the Government of “either not carrying out an equality impact assessment or choosing not to publish it”. Age UK said it had “done the work instead”, using the most up-to-date official statistics that are in the public domain.
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The analysis concludes that, in total, 10.7 million UK pensioners will lose their Winter Fuel Payment under the Government’s plan, of whom almost one in four (23%) live in poverty or just above the poverty line.
Among the more detailed findings, the charity found that 80% of UK pensioners aged 80 and over living in poverty or just above the poverty line will no longer receive the payment. Also, nearly eight in 10 (78%) UK pensioners with a disability living in poverty or just above the poverty line will no longer receive the Winter Fuel Payment.
Three-quarters (75%) of UK pensioners who live alone and live in poverty or just above the poverty line will no longer receive the money.
‘Most members of the public will be horrified’
The charity’s research into the Government’s policy change looks at its impact by age, sex, living circumstances, disability and geographic location.
Age UK described its findings as “deeply worrying” and urged the Government to keep the Winter Fuel Payment as a universal payment this year, pending the Spending Review in the spring.
The charity said that if the Government pressed ahead with its plans, it should “at the very least” bring in measures to greatly expand the numbers who will still receive Winter Fuel Payment. It suggested it could be automatically given to those receiving housing benefit, council tax support, Personal Independence Payment, Attendance Allowance and Carer’s Allowance.
Age UK said this would be a “partial solution”, but it still wouldn’t help every older person on a low income that the charity is worried about, so further help would also be required for some pensioners who only receive a low proportion of the full state pension.
Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said: “Because the Government either did not carry out an equality impact assessment or has chosen not to publish it, we thought it important to do the work ourselves. Our analysts used the most up to date data available, and their conclusions are stark.
“Bluntly, they show that the great majority of pensioners whose incomes take them either below the poverty line or only just above it – about four in every five – will lose their Winter Fuel Payment following the Government’s policy change. This includes big majorities among all the older people on low incomes who are aged over 80, disabled, over 80 and disabled, female or living alone.
“I think most members of the public will be horrified that this is the outcome of the Government’s decision, because it means that millions of pensioners are being exposed to the risk of failing to be able to stay adequately warm this winter, even though they are living on a low income.”
Age UK has urged the public to sign its petition, Save the Winter Fuel Payment for struggling pensioners. The petition has now received more than 553,000 signatures.
Steve Darling MP, Liberal Democrats’ work and pensions spokesperson, said: “We have heard countless stories in recent weeks of pensioners terrified about just making it through the winter without having to choose between heating and eating. This [report] lays bare just how frightening these cuts are for so many.
“To push ahead with taking away this support would be a crushing blow for some of the most vulnerable in society and it cannot be allowed to go ahead. The Government must change course and get these people the support they need this winter.”
