Pensioners ‘disgusted’ but Winter Fuel Payment cut

South London pensioners are ‘disgusted’ by the Government’s decision to cut Winter Fuel Payments to millions of pensioners. 

The annual payment has been relied on by pensioners since its introduction in 1997 and consists of a £200 or £300 sum, depending on the recipient’s age.

The controversial decision will reduce the number of payments going out this winter from 11.4million to 1.5million, with an opposition motion to halt the policy having been rejected by a 120 majority on Tuesday.

Christine Rixon, 75, has lived in Chislehurst for the past 26 years with her husband Paul Rixon, 76. 

Mrs Rixon said: “We were disgusted. Keir Starmer has taken our money away.

“We will get by. We will just have to be careful, that’s all. You haven’t got that little bit of comfort behind you.”

Data from the Office for National Statistics based on the 2021 census found that the median age in Bromley was 41, representing the joint highest age in a London borough, alongside Richmond.

David Peek, 86, said he would rather see 10million pensioners still receiving the payments instead of the £1.3billion of savings the Government estimated it would achieve from reducing the scheme this financial year.

He said: “It won’t affect me. I’m fortunate. But if it was my mother, she was a poor widow and just had a meagre income and it would have really made a lot of difference to her.”

Sue Boreham, 76, has lived in Forest Hill her entire life. 

She said that while she was fortunate enough not to be greatly affected by the decision to reduce the scheme, she recognised it would affect others.

She said: “I know some elderly folk who really do need it. It’s a considerable amount of money. Fuel is going up, we are told, in October, which is only next month.

“It’s been a dire summer and it looks like it will be a pretty grim winter, so it’s difficult.”

Pictured top: Christine Rixon and Paul Rixon in Bromley High Street (Picture: Joe Coughlan)