100,000 Wiltshire pensioners could be affected by winter fuel cut

Figures show how many received the payment last year

Author: Jessica Moriarty, Local Democracy ReporterPublished 2nd Oct 2024

Over 100,000 pensioners in Wiltshire could be affected by the cuts to winter fuel payments.

Intended to help the elderly with heating costs over the winter, the annual payment has been in place since 1997.

Under plans from the new Labour government, the money will now only be given to the poorest pensioners - those who receive pension credit.

It used to be paid to everyone, regardless of income or wealth, so the number of recipients is now expected to reduce from more than 11 million to about 1.5 million.

The Department for Work & Pensions has published the number of people who received the winter fuel payment in 2023/24.

There were 21,600 recipients in the Salisbury constituency, with 20,715 people getting the payment last winter, whilst there were 18,695 in East Wiltshire - the area which includes Amesbury, Tidworth and Ludgershall.

Labour has said this is part of a series of cuts designed to plug a £22 billion hole in the finances left by the previous government, which the Conservatives deny.

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