An estimated 780,000 pensioners still eligible for the winter fuel payment will lose this benefit under proposed cuts, according to the Government’s own equality analysis.
In a document quietly released by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on Friday night, it was revealed that more than two-thirds—around 71%—of people with a disability and 83% of those aged 80 or over will be affected.
Downing Street admitted that a full impact assessment of the changes, set to take effect this year, has not been conducted.
The figures, published following a freedom of information request, are derived from “equality analyses”, which, according to the DWP, “are not impact assessments and are not routinely published alongside secondary legislation.”
Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves have decided to introduce means-testing for the benefits, which are worth up to £300. They argue that this move is necessary to help address a “£22 billion deficit” in the public finances.
Starting this winter, only those on pension credit or certain other benefits will receive the payments, meaning approximately 10 million people will lose this allowance.
The DWP, in its FOI response, noted that while people with disabilities are more likely to keep receiving the payment, “around 71%—1.6 million—of people with a disability will still lose entitlement.”
The analysis also found that about 880,000 pensioners who are eligible for pension credit but have not claimed it are set to lose the benefit this year.
The assessment assumes a five percentage point increase in pension credit take-up due to “loss aversion,” which the DWP claims would reduce the number of eligible pensioners not claiming the credit to about 780,000.
The DWP stated, “The Government has followed its legal and statutory duties ahead of introducing these changes and will continue to do so.”
These revelations have reignited controversy over the policy, criticized by unions and opposition as it aims to cut support for around 10 million pensioners’ energy bills.
The Government has defended the measures, stating they are part of broader efforts to stabilize the economy and are expected to save about £1.3 billion.
Conservative Party chairman Richard Fuller criticized the policy, stating, “At the start of this week, Labour MPs voted to conceal the impact of the winter fuel cuts, which will significantly reduce support for many pensioners in their own constituencies.”
“This shocking new data, released by the Government, now shows that 780,000 people who should be entitled to the payment will lose out, as will 1.6 million people with a disability,” he added, urging Labour to “immediately conduct and publish a full impact assessment of this harmful policy.”
Back in 2017, Labour warned that Conservative plans to means-test the winter fuel allowance could result in nearly 4,000 deaths.
When asked whether an impact assessment of the policy would be released, Sir Keir Starmer, speaking to reporters while traveling to Washington, DC, stated: “There isn’t a report on my desk that we’re withholding—there simply isn’t one.” He emphasized that the Government is not legally obligated to produce such a report.
