‘I miss out on winter fuel payment by £2’ as state pensioners protest outside downing street over benefit axe

AMIDST a crowd of demonstrators outside Downing Street yesterday stood Robert Trewhella, a 68-year-old taxi driver from Cornwall.

Like millions of other state pensioners, Robert faces the grim reality of losing the £300 winter fuel payment this year.

The winter fuel payment was previously available to everyone over the state pension age (66).

However, cuts made by chancellor Rachel Reeves mean the payment is limited to retirees on pension credit or those receiving certain six other means-tested benefits.

It means that over 10million households will no longer qualify for the payment and a further 760,000 risk missing out if they don't apply for pension credit before December 21.

In a powerful display of desperation, over a dozen state pensioners descended on Downing Street yesterday to protest these very cuts.

Robert was among several campaigners, backed by charities Independent Age, 38 Degrees, Silver Voices, and Organise, who delivered petitions with over half a million signatures calling for the policy to be reversed.

Robert lives alone in Penzance and receives a weekly state pension of £221, placing him just £2 above the threshold at which most people qualify for pension credit (£218.15 a week).

To make ends meet, he works a few hours each day for a small taxi company, earning approximately £300 a month. 

Despite his efforts, Robert remains in a precarious financial situation.

He faces monthly expenses of £675 for private rent, £124 for council tax, and an additional £40 to £50 for gas and electricity costs.

With just under £10,000 in savings, Robert is caught in a cruel cycle of financial instability, relying on his savings to supplement his income. 

He told The Sun: "I shouldn't be working, I should be enjoying life at this point.

"But if I give it up, I will barely have enough to make ends meet, after all my savings won't last forever.

"It's cruel. I'm trapped in a cycle of deciding whether to work and live comfortably or suck it up and claim what little I can."

Even if Robert were to retire, he would be eligible only for housing benefit and still not qualify for pension credit.

However, he would still not be eligible for pension credit and housing benefit claims on their own do not make you eligible for the winter fuel payment.

But, claims for housing benefit alone do not make one eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment.

When delivering the petition to Number 10 on Wednesday, Robert said: "Hopefully those in charge take notice and realise that too many older people will struggle this winter without this payment.

"It's not right to take money away from vulnerable members of society."

Joanna Elson CBE, chief executive of Independent Age added: "We hope the UK Government listens to the voices we've shared and protects the winter fuel payment for older people living on low incomes.

"It’s clear from the number of signatures that there is widespread concern about the plans.

"Tying the payment to pension credit will see far too many older people fall through the cracks.

"There are also many people in later life that just miss out on pension credit, sometimes by just a few pounds and pence."

It comes after thousands of Sun readers flooded our Winter Fuel SOS helpline last Wednesday, looking for help to hang on to the payment.

The Sun has now launched a free tool to help you check whether you will get the winter fuel payment this year.

To be eligible for this year's winter fuel payment, you must have an active claim for the benefits mentioned below during the "qualifying week," which runs from 16 to 22 September.

These include Universal Credit, employment and support allowance (ESA), jobseeker's allowance (JSA), income support, child tax credit and working tax credit and pension credit.

Most households automatically receive the winter fuel payment, including those on pension credit.

As new claims for pension credit can be backdated by up to three months, you can still apply now and qualify for this year's winter fuel payment.

The absolute deadline to claim the benefit and qualify is December 21.

CHECK IF YOU QUALIFY

Pension credit tops up your weekly income to £218.15 if you are single or to £332.95 if you have a partner.

This is known as "guarantee credit".

If your income is lower than this, you're very likely to be eligible for the benefit.

However, if your income is slightly higher, you might still be eligible for pension credit if you have a disability, you care for someone, you have savings or you have housing costs.

You could get an extra £81.50 a week if you have a disability or claim any of the following:

• Attendance allowance
• The middle or highest rate from the care component of disability living allowance (DLA)
• The daily living component of personal independence payment (PIP)
• Armed forces independence payment
• The daily living component of adult disability payment (ADP) at the standard or enhanced rate.

You could get the "savings credit" part of pension credit if both of the following apply:

• You reached State Pension age before April 6, 2016
• You saved some money for retirement, for example, a personal or workplace pension

This part of pension credit is worth £17.01 for single people or £19.04 for couples.

Pension credit opens the door to other support, including housing benefits, cost of living payments, council tax reductions and the winter fuel payment.

Claims for pension credit also open doors to a number of freebies and discounts.

For example, pension credit claimants over 75 qualify for a free TV licence worth up to £169.50 a year.

Claims for the benefit also provide eligibility to £25 a week cold weather payments and the £150 warm home discount.

We have a guide on all the state pension freebies and discounts you can get.

How much is the winter fuel payment and how is it paid?

Payments last year were worth between £300 and £600, depending on your specific circumstances.

This is because the amount included a "Pensioner Cost of Living Payment" - between £150 and £300. 

This year, it will be worth £200 for eligible households or £300 for eligible households with someone aged over 80.

That means you could receive up to £300 in free cash depending on your circumstances.

Most payments are made automatically in November or December.

You'll get a letter telling you:

• How much you'll get
• Which bank account it will be paid into

If you do not get a letter or the money has not been paid into your account by January 29, 2025, you must contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre on 0800 731 0160.