‘It will make numerous distinction’: Reactions to iciness gas cost U-turn

More than three-quarters of pensioners will obtain the iciness gas cost this yr after a big coverage U-turn.

The resolution from Chancellor Rachel Reeves approach 9 million pensioners in England and Wales with an annual source of revenue of £35,000 or much less will now be eligible.

People have spoken to us or contacted the BBC thru Your Voice, Your BBC News about how the alternate of plan will impact them.

Bob Pritchard, 78, from Bath, advised the BBC he earns £19,500 a yr and believes he’ll now have his allowance reinstated.

“It will make a lot of difference. I’ve got various health issues and have to travel to hospital by taxi. I can’t really afford to do it. The winter fuel payment was more or less taken away without warning,” he mentioned,

Despite being glad in regards to the executive’s U-turn, Bob believes he will have to be compensated for a way he struggled when his iciness gas cost was once taken away closing yr.

“The least they could do is offer some small compensation for all the grief and heartache that the initial decision to stop winter fuel payments has caused,” he mentioned.

Alice George, 71, from Watford says she is “appalled” via Reeves’ resolution and offers her personal iciness gas cost to charity.

“I know people who put the money towards a holiday,” she mentioned.

“I constantly meet pensioners who live very comfortably. I go to the cinema and the theatre regularly and they are packed with my ilk, most of whom don’t need this money.”

Alice thinks its unfair that some younger folks incomes lower than £30,000 are anticipated to pay what she calls “extortionate rent and travel expenses”.

She thinks the iciness gas cost cash will have to be put against the NHS or tackling the housing disaster.

Ian Bryant, from Nailsworth in Gloucestershire, is happy with the federal government’s resolution.

He earns greater than £35,000 as a pensioner so is probably not receiving the cost himself however is glad for the others who will.

“It wasn’t ideal when the payment was removed last year, as it impacted on many of those on the lowest income although I understand why it was done. A more considered approach would have been better,” he mentioned.

“I’m 68 and still have a mortgage. I go away a couple of times a year – nothing five star – have an old car, but manage fine. I’m more than happy not to receive the payment.”

Gail Impey, 71, a finance supervisor from Buckinghamshire, will fail to see the cost as her source of revenue is solely over £35,000.

She mentioned she struggled closing yr when her iciness gas cost was once taken away.

“I turned off all the heating and used all my saved up logs in my log burner,” she mentioned.

Gail’s husband died in 2021, which supposed she may just now not retire as she mentioned she may just no longer have the funds for to forestall running.

“Luckily at 71 I am fit enough to work but I do not have a good quality of life. It’s just me and the dog. Everything is so expensive, I have to make every penny count,” she mentioned.

She added: “I earn just over the threshold but I’m taxed on that. I have paid in all my life and it seems I am missing out again. This is not fair and being on my own I have to work harder than ever.”

Mike Hodges, 72, says he didn’t pass over the iciness gas cost when he stopped receiving it.

He says his source of revenue is above the £35,000 threshold however underneath £40,000.

“The threshold could be a lot lower so money can be spent on much more pressing priorities.”

He thinks the cash spent at the gas bills will have to move to projects for more youthful folks as a substitute.

Additional reporting via Kris Bramwell and Alex Emery

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