News that 2.8 million of the oldest pensioners will lose £300 brought fresh calls for a U-turn.
Dennis Reed, director of campaigners Silver Voices, said: "The scrapping of the winter fuel payment must rank as one of the most disgraceful and immoral decisions ever taken by a Labour government." Department for Work and Pensions data reveals 27% of OAPs who will now be denied the handout are over 80. The 2021 Census showed there are 3.2 million people that age or older.
Mr Reed commented: "They are very disturbing figures. Those most in need of the winter fuel payments are going to be clobbered by this policy.
"The universal payment was £300 for everybody over 80, and that higher payment recognised the fact that if you're over 80 you're much more likely to suffer very badly from the cold. Generally speaking the over-80s are frailer.
"They're more likely to have multiple conditions. They're more likely to be isolated, so not getting family support. Probably living on their own because they might be widows or widowers...the very people that unfortunately are going to suffer very badly." Mr Reed warned of the impact on the NHS, saying any saving was a "false economy". He said over-80s are "likely to suffer from respiratory problems and cardiovascular problems, all those medical conditions which are accentuated by the cold weather".
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