A WIRRAL councillor is calling for action to support “low-income” pensioners following the government’s decision to scrap the winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners.

On Monday, July 29, chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a package which included measures to close a £22b hole in the public finance.

Part of the plan to close the hole was the scrapping of state benefit winter fuel payments designed to help pensioners with their heating bills.

The plans, which will come into place from this autumn, will mean that those not on pension credit or other means-tested benefits will no longer receive the annual £100-£300 payment.

Is it estimated that around 10m pensioners in England and Wales will be impacted by the decision.

Analysis shows that almost 60,000 people in Wirral will be at least £250 worse off this Winter.

In Seacombe, 1,473 pensioners who do not qualify for Pension Credit will have their payments cut while in Upton, 2,628 pensioners will lose out. And in Liscard and Egremont 2,313 pensioners will be affected.

Councillor Jeff Green, Leader of Wirral’s Conservative Councillors, said: “Many of the 58,800 pensioners who have lost their Winter Fuel Payment will have incomes just above the threshold for Pension Credit.

“For more than 20 years, both Labour and Conservatives have committed to maintain Winter Fuel Payments, along with NHS prescriptions and bus travel.

“The scrapping of Winter Fuel Payments comes at a time when many prices, and Council tax, are still rising. Many of those pensioners who are just about managing will be hit hardest by this decision.

“There are many organisations across Wirral, working with some of our older residents. It’s really important that the Council does everything possible to work with them, looking for ways to make sure that those pensioners who need help are not left behind.”

Commenting after the announcement by the Chancellor, AGE UK said on X: "We strongly oppose the means-testing of Winter Fuel Payment because our initial estimate is that as many as two million pensioners who badly need the money to stay warm this winter will not receive it. With winter now just over the horizon, the Government should halt their proposed change to Winter Fuel Payment and think again, given the clear evidence of how it will hurt the older people who need it the most."

Finance expert Martin Lewis added: "The Energy Price Cap is likely to rise 10% this October and stay high across the winter, leaving most energy bills nearly double those pre-crisis, at levels unaffordable for millions. Many pensioners eke out the £100 to £300 Winter Fuel Payments to allow them to keep some heating on through the cold months."