Sat Oct 05 01:42:00 UTC 2024: ## Government’s Winter Fuel Payment Cut Will Hit Elderly Couples Hardest, New Analysis Reveals

**Hull, UK** – The government’s decision to cut the Winter Fuel Payment, a benefit providing £200-£300 to millions of pensioners, is expected to disproportionately affect elderly couples, according to a new equality impact analysis released by the Department of Health and Social Care. The analysis, published last month, predicts that the policy will reduce the number of eligible pensioners from around 12 million to 1.7 million in the first year, dropping to 1.2 million by the end of the scorecard period.

The analysis suggests that 880,000 pensioners eligible for Pensions Credit, a gateway benefit leading to the Winter Fuel Payment, do not claim it. The government anticipates an increase in Pensions Credit claims this year of only 100,000, leaving 780,000 still missing out on the benefit.

While the analysis highlights that older pensioners are less likely to be affected by the cut, those who are will experience a larger financial loss due to the higher rates of Winter Fuel Payment for older age groups. For example, 83% of those aged 80+ currently receiving the WFP will lose out, compared to 90% of those aged 66 to 79.

The document also reveals that couples are disproportionately affected by the cut, with 97% of couples losing out compared to 79% of single individuals. The analysis attributes this to couples being less likely to be on the lowest incomes, making them less likely to qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment.

The cut has drawn criticism from Labour MP Rachael Maskell, who asked the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to conduct an impact assessment on the move. The government has defended its decision, stating that it will continue to support vulnerable households through other means such as the Warm Home Discount and the Household Support Fund.

However, the government’s own analysis highlights the significant impact the Winter Fuel Payment cut will have on elderly couples and raises concerns about the potential for a wider increase in fuel poverty among pensioners.

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