Pressure growing on Chancellor to reverse cash grab

CHANCELLOR Rachel Reeves is under increasing pressure to justify axing cold weather cash for 10 million pensioners.

- Giles Sheldrick

Regulations ending universal winter fuel payments come into force on September 16 in a means-testing move that will plunge many into misery.

The Treasury and Department for Work and Pensions have been asked repeatedly to reveal the impact assessment behind the move, but have refused.

The DWP said it is incorrect to say none was carried out.

But the Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2024 laid before Parliament makes clear: "A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, public or voluntary sectors is foreseen." In addition, proposals will not be referred to the Social Security Advisory Committee because of the "urgency of this matter".

Ministers want to penalise pensioners, and claw back £3billion, claiming there is a £22billion black hole in the public finances that needs to be plugged.

Impact