A grandmother who only stopped working at the age of 75 has spoken of her fear and anger at losing the winter fuel payment . Paula Beer told i she has already purchased a hot water bottle and thermals in preparation for the bleak winter and is planning on sitting in one room with her duvet so she doesn’t have to put the central heating on due to high energy bills. Ms Beer said she has worked hard all her life, never claimed benefits and paid into pension pots to make provisions for her retirement .
She is now furious at the decision to axe the £200-£300 payment from an estimated 10 million pensioners across the country. She said: “It galls me that I have worked hard all my life and never had to rely on the state – but now they’ve taken away the only bit of money they gave me. “To me, that winter fuel payment was everything.
I have had it since 2007 and it was budgeted into my income to last throughout the winter. “It’s going to be impossible to get through the winter without it. I will face a choice of heating or eating.
I have to eat to stay alive so I’ll probably die of hypothermia. “I won’t be able to afford to use my central heating so I’ve already bought a hot water bottle and have ordered some very cheap thermals from a Chinese company. “I will just be existing this winter, not living.
Anything that gives me joy will have to go out of the window. I run a car, but won’t be able to go anywhere in it. “I won’t be able to afford any nights ou.