Pensioners braced for ‘really difficult’ winter

Citizens’ Advice is bracing itself for a “really difficult” winter ahead of the scrapping of winter fuel payments for 10 million pensioners, the charity’s boss says.

From next month, those not on pension credit or other means-tested benefits will no longer get the annual payments, worth between £100 and £300.

Dame Clare Moriarty, who will attend a government meeting with energy firms to discuss the issue on Wednesday, told the BBC there should be better targeted support for those with the highest needs and the lowest incomes.

The prime minister has defended the decision to scrap winter fuel payments, saying it was needed to repair what he claims is a £22bn “hole” in the public finances.

In a speech on Tuesday, Sir Keir Starmer said he had to be honest that “things [would] get worse before they [got] better” when it came to public spending.

The meeting to discuss how to help those struggling with energy bills was called last week by Energy Consumers Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh after it was announced the energy price cap would rise from October.

Regulator Ofgem has said gas and electricity prices will rise by 10% in England, Scotland and Wales under the new energy price cap, with the typical annual dual-fuel bill paid by direct debit to be £1,717 per year.

Ofgem, trade association Energy UK and Citizens Advice have also been invited to attend the meeting.

Ms Fahnbulleh said that together they would “help households in energy debt and take proactive steps to stop others from falling into it”.