Winter fuel cut to put 50,000 pensioners into relative poverty

Published On Nov 19, 2024, 12:59 PM

The UK government has announced cuts to the winter fuel allowance, resulting in an estimated additional 50,000 pensioners living in relative poverty next year. The allowance will now only be available to the poorest pensioners eligible for pension credit. The government estimates indicate this policy will increase pensioner poverty by 0.5 percentage points, affecting more pensioners in the coming years. While the government argues this is a necessary step due to a £22 billion fiscal deficit, opposition parties criticize the decision, highlighting the negative impact on vulnerable pensioners.