Since government cut the Winter Fuel Payment, my life has been a nightmare

DEAR DEIDRE: SINCE the government cut the Winter Fuel Payment, I’ve been struggling to afford my bills.

Now I’m forced to choose between putting my heating on or buying food, and the stress is making me unwell.

I’m a 76-year-old pensioner, and I live alone. 

Until this year, I was receiving £200 payments to cover the cost of my heating bills, and I heavily relied on it. 

So when the government announced the change, I went into a complete panic. My pension is already low as it is, so without the extra payments, I knew it was going to be a hard couple of months.

When I contacted the council for help, they told me that while I was eligible to apply, I had missed the deadline, so now I’d have to go without.

Ever since, my life has been an absolute nightmare. 

Now I wake up every morning to a freezing house, and no matter what I do, I can’t keep warm.

The constant dread is getting me down, and I’m struggling to cope.

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DEIDRE SAYS: I can only imagine how distressing this must be for you.

While the qualifying week for this year's Fuel Payment has now passed, you may still be eligible if you successfully apply for Pension Credit by the 21st of December. Please note you only have two days to do this so please take action today.

You may also be eligible for a £150 Warm Home Discount. You can find out more about this on the government website ().

Please get in touch with Turn2Us (, 0808 802 2000) for advice about further benefits and help you may be entitled to.