Labour ministers have reminded pensioners about increases to payments coming later this year amid a furious backlash over the removal of Winter Fuel Payments for millions. The controversial decision to strip two million low-income pensioners of their Winter Fuel Payments, worth up to £300, has been brought back into the spotlight amid the new year cold snap.
There are fears about how some hard-up pensioners will cope with temperatures to remain around freezing for at least the next week. While the very poorest are still getting the winter payments, around two million on low incomes have had them taken away, leaving them up to £300 worse off.
And life will likely become much more difficult in the coming days in the bitterly cold conditions. Under pressure on the issue during an interview on BBC Breakfast, the Health Secretary Wes Streeting insisted the most vulnerable pensioners had been protected and pointed to increases to the state pension coming into effect from April under the triple lock guarantee.
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The triple lock means the pension rate will rise by 4.1% – up to £470 a year for those on the new state pension. Mr Streeting said: “The Chancellor (Rachel Reeves) has protected the Winter Fuel Payment for the poorest pensioners and the triple lock this year.”
The new pension rates will kick in from April, the start of the new financial year. For those on the new full state pension (retired after April 2016), the weekly rate will go up from £221.20 a week to £230.25.
Others on the old basic state pension will see weekly payments increase from £169.50 to £176.45.