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Health fears over winter fuel payments cut

BBC A woman with short grey hair and glasses wearing a spotty blouse, looking straight at the camera with a sofa, a window and a cabinet in the background.BBC
Daughne Taylor said she had to keep the heating on all day over winter to try to keep her husband comfortable

A woman whose husband has Parkinson's said the government has "cast aside" people with chronic health conditions in its plans to limit the winter fuel payment.

Daughne Taylor, who lives in Tadley, Hampshire, said her husband Maurice is "permanently cold", and they had to have the heating on 24/7 over winter.

The winter fuel payment was previously paid to all pensioners to help with energy bills, but, in July, the government said it would be made only to those who received certain benefits.

The couple used the winter fuel allowance to buy wood for their log burner but no longer qualify.

A woman with grey hair and glasses wearing a spotty blouse handing a cup of tea to a man with grey hair and glasses, who is sitting on a sofa using his mobile phone, with a table and a lamp next to him
Mrs Taylor said she worried people with pre-existing health conditions could be made more unwell by the cold

Mr Taylor was diagnosed with Parkinson's eight years ago, and said the progression had been "quite slow".

"But regulating temperature is quite a major problem," he said.

Mrs Taylor said his hands would be "absolutely freezing" even if it was warm outside, and that the cold affected his joints and mobility.

A woman with grey hair and wearing a spotty blouse stoking a fire in a log burner.
Mrs Taylor said the couple had to have the heating on 24/7 over winter

The prime minister previously said the cut was necessary because of the state of the country's finances.

But Mrs Taylor said she was worried the government had not taken the health impacts into account.

"There are so many people who have life-changing illnesses... and a lot of those patients don't qualify for any of the other benefits."

She said she was concerned people in her husband's situation would end up being admitted to "overstretched" NHS hospitals and accused the government of using the winter fuel payment as an "easy" way of saving money.

"The Government just saw this big pot of money that they could take away - 'let's hammer the pensioners'," she said.

"It's not a luxury hand-out. It's a necessity. It's a lifeline for so many elderly people."

In a statement a government spokesperson said: “We are committed to supporting pensioners – with millions set to see their state pension rise by up to £1,700 this parliament through our commitment to the triple lock.

“Over a million pensioners will still receive the Winter Fuel Payment, and our drive to boost Pension Credit take up has already seen a 152% increase in claims.

"Many others will also benefit from the £150 Warm Home Discount to help with energy bills over winter while our extension of the Household Support Fund will help with the cost of food, heating and bills.”

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