Martin Lewis fact checks Chancellor Rachel Reeves as 10 million Brits face more hardship this winter
manchestereveningnews.co.ukAfter years of holding the Conservative government to account over the impact of its policies on people's personal finances, Martin Lewis has continued his consumer crusade with the new Labour Chancellor, telling Rachel Reeves that her plans to means test the Winter Fuel Payment will leave many older Brits "struggling to pay." Barely a month into office, the new Chancellor announced that the universal cash benefit given to people over 66 will be axed for anyone who wasn't a Pension Credit claimant, in an effort to fill the £22 billion "blackhole" left by the previous government.
This Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefit is only available to pensioners whose incomes fall below around £11,343 per year.
Responding to a question from Tory MP Wendy Morton the House of Commons, Rachel Reeves said: "The increases in the basic state pension mean that constituents of hers are £900 better off than they were a year ago and of course energy bills are lower this year than they were last year." But the Money Saving Expert pointed out that this large year-on-year rise was merely to account for inflation, leaving energy bill pressure largely the same. READ MORE: DWP Winter Fuel Payment update for state pensioners on Tax Credits Martin Lewis admitted that it was true to say that households face lower bills, "even after the 10 per cent price cap rise.
The saving equates to [around] £100 over the six winter months for a typical home." However, pensioners earning just over the £11,343 threshold could still see their finances fall by £300 this winter, despite still facing hardship.
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