North Yorkshire pensions fears over Winter Fuel payment cut

We're hearing from some who say they were already struggling to afford energy bills

Author: Kathy GreenPublished 11th Sep 2024

Pensioners in North Yorkshire are urging the Government to think again over plans to cut Winter fuel payments.

The move will see around 10 million people lose up to £300 to help with energy costs.

Josie Knowles from York will lose the top up and is worried about the impact on her family.

"My husband is on medication. Blood thinners make you feel the cold more. It worries me to think if we're going to have a really cold spell, we would be worried about putting the heating on extra."

"We will struggle, we will struggle and we're proud. We don't want people to know that we're struggling. I am frugal with money. I've learned to manage finances with, with bringing up a family, but everything has gone up."

"And we make a joke out of it, because if we don't make a joke out of it, it's depressing. So I've already gone into a certain shop and bought some really good, some extra thermals. So we will layer up even more."

"It is demoralising. I don't expect to sit in a sauna, but I don't expect to have to think about, 'please don't let it be cold because we have to put the heating on.'

The government says "tough decisions" need to be made because of the state of the countries finances.

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