Approximately 780,000 pensioners in England and Wales are set to lose their winter fuel allowance due to a failure to apply for benefits they are entitled to, according to the government’s own estimates. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) released these figures under freedom of information laws on Friday.
The “equalities analyses” suggested that many pensioners eligible for pension credit, and therefore qualified for the winter fuel payment under new rules, will not submit claims, resulting in the loss of the benefit. This comes after the government denied conducting a full impact assessment of the policy, despite calls from opposition parties for transparency.
No 10 has previously stated that it is not legally required to conduct a complete impact assessment on the decision to means-test the winter fuel payment. Under the new rules, the allowance will still be available for pensioners receiving pension credit or certain other benefits, but around 10 million people are expected to lose access.
A Treasury spokesperson said over a million pensioners would continue to receive the payment, and the government is encouraging those eligible for pension credit to apply. However, the DWP’s analysis shows that while an estimated 100,000 additional pensioners may apply, over three-quarters of a million eligible individuals are still not expected to submit a claim.
The report also indicated that nine in 10 pensioners aged 66-79 would lose their winter fuel payment, as well as eight in 10 of those aged over 80. Given that pensioners over 80 receive a higher payment (£300 compared to £200), they will face the biggest financial loss. Furthermore, the analysis found that although pensioners with disabilities are more likely to retain the benefit, around 71% will still lose their entitlement.
Conservative Party Chairman Richard Fuller has urged Labour to release a full impact assessment of what he called a “harmful policy,” accusing the government of quietly releasing the analysis. Previously, the Liberal Democrats criticized the lack of an assessment before cutting support, calling it “unthinkable.”
On Thursday, Sir Keir Starmer defended the decision to cut winter fuel payments as necessary for stabilizing the economy, stating that mitigations were being put in place. The DWP clarified that the document, which is less comprehensive than a full impact assessment, is not typically published alongside secondary legislation but was released following a Freedom of Information request.
