- Over half (58%) of Scottish pensioners polled say they will likely heat their homes less this winter due to the withdrawal of the Winter Fuel Payment, while four in ten (39%) say they will cut back on essentials.
- 59% also say they will take cost-cutting measures due to the government announcement to withdraw the Winter Fuel Payment support.
- Liberal Democrats are calling on the UK Government to urgently rethink cuts that will affect around 11 million people in the UK and pledge to vote against the cut in the UK Parliament.
By Lucy Ashton
A new poll commissioned by the Liberal Democrats has revealed the staggering effects of the cut to the winter fuel allowance this winter.
The poll of pensioners showed that 86% of pensioners in Scotland are expected to be affected by the UK Government’s cut to winter fuel allowance payments.
Staggeringly, over half (58%) of Scottish pensioners polled said they would likely be heating their homes less this winter, while four in ten will look to cut back on other ‘essentials.’
Across the UK, 11 million pensioners are set to lose their Winter Fuel Payment under the government’s plans, including two million that the Charity Age UK has said will struggle to afford their energy bills as a result.
The poll comes as there is set to be a vote in the UK Parliament on the cut to the Winter Fuel Allowance. Liberal Democrats initially called for a vote by tabling a motion and will now take the opportunity to oppose the government.
The Scottish Government has been preparing to replace the Winter Fuel Payment with Pension Age Winter Heating Payment and has announced that it will replicate the changes being made by the UK Government. The replacement has been deferred until winter 2025-26.
Liberal Democrat Scottish affairs spokesperson Christine Jardine MP, left, said: “The government should do the right thing and change course on this.
“The decision to cut the winter fuel allowance will put untold stress on pensioners across Scotland, with many feeling they have to endure the cold this winter and cut back on basic spending.
“While we understand the dire state the Conservatives left the public finances, now is not the time to be cutting support to some of the most vulnerable people in our society.
“We cannot stand by and allow millions of pensioners to endure another winter in a cost of living crisis. Liberal Democrats will be voting against the government’s cut.”
Additional information:
Methodology: Savanta interviewed 2,243 UK adults aged 18+ online on 30th August to 1st September 2024. Data weighted to be representative of the UK by age, sex, region and social grade.
Q1. The government has announced it is planning to withdraw the Winter Fuel Payment from pensioners who aren’t entitled to pension credit or other means-tested benefits. This payment helps towards energy bills, which are set to rise this winter.
Which of the following best descries you? Base: Scotland. All respondents aged 65 and over (n=44)
I will be impacted by these changes 86%
I will not be impacted by these changes 14%
Don’t know 0%
Q2. Which of the following, if any, are you likely to do as a result o the withdrawal of the Winter Fuel Payment support? Base: Scotland. All respondents aged 65 and over (n=44)
Heat your home less this winter 58%
Eat less this winter 8%
Cut back on other essentials 39%
Other (please specify) 3%
Don’t know 4%
None of these – I don’t expect to be badly impacted 37%
Age UK research showing that two million pensioners would struggle with the cut to the Winter Fuel Payment can be found here
Top of page: Pensioner out clearing path into his home in worst of West Dunbartonshire weather.
And then we have the obscenity of the fuel companies announcing in advance that their fuel prices will be going up as winter approaches.
The government and their big business chums certainly know how to make it hurt. And what better people to hurt than the elderly. Maybe it’s a plan to kill them off. Why else would you do such a thing to the older folks.
Of course, the Government, the great Labour government of the people, could introduce inclining block tariffs.
Never heard of it. Well its block pricing. First units of fuel are cheap. Next units a bit more expensive. The next units again a bit more expensive. Its the way progressive taxation works. Low wage low tax, higher wage more tax, and so on.
But no its never been considered as far as I know. And so the pensioner with the single electric light and meagre electric fire, to use an analogy, pays the same as the millionaire with his floodlit heated swimming pool. In fact, the millionaire pays less because for him the fixed price standing charge is less per unit for him.
Ah well, cutting old people’s heating allowance, is at least something the Tories didn’t do. And all in a country like Scotland blessed with energy resources. A Union Dividend if I may opine.