2.5 million branded 'too wealthy' for winter fuel payout classed as 'poor'

MORE than 2.5 million OAPs stripped of their winter fuel payments are existing on below-living-standards incomes, a charity has warned.

- Martyn Brown

Analysis by the Centre for Ageing Better shows one in four people aged 65 and over are deemed by the Government to be too wealthy to receive help with their energy bills - but too poor to live a decent lifestyle under the Minimum Income Standard.

That rises to 29% of those aged 74 and over who are above the pension credit threshold and no longer eligible for the cold weather payment, but have incomes lower than the MIS.

The findings come two days after Health Secretary Wes Streeting insisted, despite fears 4,000 may die after Labour cut their fuel payment, that pensioners would be "better off" this winter.

Dignity