85% of pensioners in Oldham Borough to lose out under Labour winter fuel cut 

A staggering 85% of pensioners in Oldham are set to lose out after changes to winter fuel payments were announced by new Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves last week. 

The Chancellor announced that less pensioners would be eligible for winter fuel payments going forward. An estimated 10 million pensioners are set to lose out nationally with 85% of pensioners in Oldham who previously received payments also set to be struck off according to Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) data analysed by the Liberal Democrats.

Leader of Oldham Liberal Democrats councillor Howard Sykes MBE said, “The new Labour government are setting new thresholds for winter fuel support and this is coming while the cost-of-living crisis is still biting for many people across Oldham.” 

“This is a move which will push many elderly people into poverty completely unnecessarily, especially if the energy price cap increases by 10% in October as expected.”

A breakdown of unclaimed benefits in Oldham compiled by Policy in Practice

Analysis of the chancellors winter fuel payment policy by Matin Lewis of Money Saving Expert
Martin Lewis: Winter Fuel Payment targeting ‘too narrow’ (moneysavingexpert.com)