Devastating poll reveals difficult lives of the aged on state pension

Struggle... the charity Independent Age says pensioners are having to make 'painful and drastic cutbacks'

- By Katie Harris

LABOUR is facing renewed demands to U-turn on axing winter fuel payments in England and Wales after devastating polling revealed most OAPs could not live on the state pension alone.

The research found 81% of over 65s said they would not be able to afford essentials such as food, water and energy if they had just £230.25 a week.

Tory shadow work and pensions secretary Helen Whately said: “This Labour Government is punishing pensioners and pushing them to the edge, but they don’t seem to care.

“It is heartbreaking to see some of the country’s most vulnerable who have worked hard all their lives sent to suffer in silence by Starmer.”

Reform UK MP Lee Anderson thundered: “No Government that truly cared for its citizens would scrap winter fuel payments and put pensioners at risk. Labour must reverse this shameful decision.”

He added: “Reform UK will put Britons first — above all else.”

Independent Age, which commissioned the YouGov poll, is calling for a cross-party review on what an adequate income in later life is in a new report released today.

The charity’s chief executive Joanna Elson said: “It is clear too many older people are living on inadequate incomes that do not even cover the cost of basic essentials.