Four in every five pensioners living below or just above the poverty line are set to lose the winter fuel payment, including 1.1 million disabled people, according to new analysis by a leading charity. New research from Age UK estimates that 10.
7 million pensioners will lose their fuel payment this winter, following Chancellor Rachel Reeves ’ decision to means test the hand-out. Of those who will lose out, almost one in four - 23 per cent or 2.46 million people - live in relative poverty or are just above the poverty line, the analysis found.
Under Labour’s plans, only pensioners on certain benefits , such as pension credit, will be able to get help. People above the state pension age cannot claim Universal Credit and instead are given pension credit, however this is only for single people with a weekly income of below £218.15 a week or £332.
95 for a couple. Charities have warned that millions of pensioners who are vulnerable due to low incomes or disability, but who do not qualify for pension credit, will be left out. In new figures released on Wednesday, Age UK estimates that 800,000 pensioners who are aged 80 or over, and who are living in poverty or just above the poverty line, will no longer receive the winter fuel payment.
Pensioners defined as living in poverty are those with a disposable household income that is less than 60 per cent of the median income for their area in the UK. Those living just above the poverty line are categorised as having a disposable inc.
