'PENSIONERS £1,000 WORSE OFF' UNDER LABOUR

LABOUR’S “assault on pensioners” would leave older people almost £1,000 worse off as temperatures plummet for winter.

- David Williamson and Jonathan Walker

Campaigners fear the vulnerable and the elderly will be forced to cut back on food and heating, while struggling with anxiety about paying their bills, if Chancellor Rachel Reeves continues to target them in next month’s Budget.

They have warned that further “hammer blows” on top of the winter fuel payment cuts will push many to “breaking point”. It has emerged that Sir Keir Starmer’s government could bring in a “tax on widows” by axing the single person’s 25 per cent discount on council tax.

The Treasury has refused to rule this out, insisting that “difficult decisions lie ahead on spending, welfare and tax” to fix a “£22billion black hole”. In response, former pensions minister Baroness Altmann warned: “Abolishing the single person council tax discount would be a tax on widows and widowers left living alone in a family home.”

The loss of the 25 per cent discount would cost pensioners in a band D property up to £543.

Ten million pensioners are set to lose their winter fuel allowance of up to £300 and an increase to the energy price cap will push up bills for the average household by £149. Taken together, pensioners could be £992 worse off.

Caroline Abrahams, of Age UK, said: “Many older people are reeling from the news that they are losing their winter fuel payment, so we fervently hope that there are no more nasty surprises to come.”

Warning that pensioners are “frightened” about what could be heading their way, she said: “The Government’s decision to brutally means test winter fuel payments came out of the blue and as a complete shock, so it’s not surprising that some older people are telling Age UK that they are frightened of what they may do next.”

Conservative leadership candidate Robert Jenrick said: “Under Labour, pensioners could be nearly £1,000 a year worse off, which for many is a cost they simply can’t afford.