Should all pensioners get the winter fuel payment? What Yahoo readers told us
Yahoo UK's poll of the week lets you vote and indicate your strength of feeling on one of the week's hot topics. After 72 hours the poll closes and, each Friday, we'll publish and analyse the results, giving readers the chance to see how polarising a topic has become and if their view chimes with other Yahoo UK readers.
Sir Keir Starmer is holding firm on plans to strip winter fuel payments from millions of pensioners despite a revolt by his own Labour MPs.
The move is expected to reduce the number of recipients receiving the payment of up to £300 from about 10.8 million last winter to an estimated 1.5 million this year, saving £1.3 billion.
Starmer and Reeves decided to means-test the payments to help fill what they claim is a £22 billion “black hole” in the public finances left by the previous government. The Institute for Fiscal Studies has disputed this claim, saying that while some of the financial pressures facing the new government “genuinely appear to be greater" than anticipated, many of the challenges Labour has outlined were “entirely predictable”.
The government has also been under pressure from the Tories to publish an impact assessment of the plan.
Starmer has insisted that planned increases to pensions would "outstrip any loss of payment" due to the 'triple lock', which guarantees the state pension rises by inflation, average wage growth or 2.5% every year. But critics of the proposal have claimed it will make this winter “deeply challenging” for millions of pensioners.
Yahoo News UK asked our readers for their thoughts on the issue. Here are the results while we have also published some of their comments further down:
Our poll from Tuesday at midday until midday Thursday asked: 'Should all pensioners get the winter fuel payment?'
It received 10,137 votes and showed just over two-thirds of Yahoo readers (67.29%) disagree with Labour's policy and think all pensioners should receive the payment. Some 27.02% of voters said they did not think pensioners should get it, while 5.69% indicated they were undecided.
Yahoo News UK readers were also asked, on a scale of 1 to 10: "How important is it that this benefit is means tested?"
There was significant polarisation in this poll's results. While 28.1% of voters gave the concept of means testing the benefit 1/10 importance, the second most popular rating was 10/10 - indicating that while many of Yahoo's readers (most likely the elderly) feel strongly about the issue, others do not regard it as important.
In contrast, a YouGov poll from July showed that around 47% support the winter fuel allowance being means tested, while 38% said they opposed such a move, with the rest undecided.
What Yahoo readers said:
'Incredibly petty' I don't need it, so perhaps in my case it was a good idea to cut it, but - as anyone knows trying to claim state benefits - it is really difficult (I have to do it for my disabled son). Given all the money the government wastes on other things, to me it seems incredibly petty and shows the mentality of our new government. (Colin B, Essex)
'Pensioners should opt out' I think all pensioners should automatically get the allowance, but be given the option to easily opt out if they can afford to do without it. I have sufficient faith that most people are decent and would do the right thing. (Geoff S, Berkshire)
'The bar is too low' There are many pensioners who are unable to claim Pension Credits, but who will rely on WFA to help heat their homes this winter. The government has definitely set the bar too low on this one. Take it away from those who really don't need it, by all means, but still give it to those of us who are able to claim Council Tax and Housing Benefit, because we will need it (Shelley B, St Leonards on Sea)
Affluent pensioners don't need it While I think there will be some affluent pensioners who don't need the payment, I think the proposal as it stands will negatively impact many less well-off pensioners. The line should be drawn somewhere higher than the current proposals. (Derek H, Ayrshire)
'We are deeply worried' My wife and I are pensioners and we are just above the limit for pension credit and we are deeply worried how to keep ourselves warm this winter - and future ones - if we don't get the winter fuel payments. We miss Rishi Sunak and the Conservative Party because we felt we were not forgotten and getting helped during the cost of living crisis when they were in power. The Labour Government gave 22% pay rise to the junior doctors and big pay rise to train drivers and yet they take away our £200 winter fuel payment. Where is the fairness!? (Hing Y, Essex)
These polls have now closed, please come back on Friday to read the results and analysis.
Our original poll article can be found here.
Read more of Yahoo UK's Poll of the Week articles
