1 week Ago By Aasma Day
A grandmother who only stopped working at the age of 75 has spoken of her fear and anger at losing the winter fuel payment . Paula Beer told i she has already purchased a hot water bottle and thermals in preparation for the bleak winter and is planning on sitting in one room with her duvet so she doesn’t have to put the central heating on due to high energy bills. Ms Beer said she has worked hard all her life, never claimed benefits and paid into pension pots to make provisions for her retirement .
She is now furious at the decision to axe the £200-£300 payment from an estimated 10 million pensioners across the country. She said: “It galls me that I have worked hard all my life and never had to rely on the state – but now they’ve taken away the only bit of money they gave me. “To me, that winter fuel payment was everything.
I have had it since 2007 and it was budgeted into my income to last throughout the winter. “It’s going to be impossible to get through the winter without it. I will face a choice of heating or eating.
I have to eat to stay alive so I’ll probably die of hypothermia. “I won’t be able to afford to use my central heating so I’ve already bought a hot water bottle and have ordered some very cheap thermals from a Chinese company. “I will just be existing this winter, not living.
Anything that gives me joy will have to go out of the window. I run a car, but won’t be able to go anywhere in it. “I won’t be able to afford any nights out.
I only buy one soft drink for £2 when I go out and make it last all evening, but I won’t even be able to afford that. It will be a miserable winter.” Ms Beer, who has two children – including her son who she was only reunited with earlier this year after giving him up for adoption at 17 – and a grandson, told i that being divorced and single, she has no one else to lean on financially and has always been independent.
She worked as a professional home economist for many years, before going on to have roles as a civil servant in local government and the NHS. Ms Beer ended her working life working for a crisis team signposting people to mental health services and only retired last November. “I get four pensions – civil service, local government, NHS and the state pension – and I still can’t live so I don’t know how other people cope,” she said.
“Half my income goes on rent, which is £700 a month. I’m not eligible for pension credit and the only help I get is £32 a month towards my rent. “I shop around for everything and have done all my life.
I only pay £63 for gas and electric a month and my bills are cheaper than anyone I know, but I still struggle to make ends meet.” Read Next 'Waspi women like me have been stabbed in the back again by winter fuel cut' Ms Beer, who lives in Bridgend, Wales, says she feels “extremely angry and bitter” to have voted for the Labour government. “I am outraged at the way they are treating older people,” she said.
“The Budget didn’t help older people at all. “Cutting the winter fuel payment will harm us. They think because we’re old we will just rollover and take it, but I will fight until the bitter end and campaign against these changes.
“They are going after vulnerable pensioners and it’s not fair.” Joanna Elson, chief executive at charity Independent Age , said: “For people like Paula who are already living on a low income, the removal of the winter fuel payment is extremely worrying. “Unfortunately, Paula’s story is now all too familiar and will be happening to older people across the country.
“Millions will be bracing for winter where their income has been slashed, which for many, will mean cutting back on heating and eating, only heating one room and going to bed in hats and coats. This shouldn’t be happening in modern Britain. “Time is running out for the UK Government to ensure that everyone living on a low income in later life has the money they need this winter.
“Current plans to tie the winter fuel payment to pension credit are too narrow; latest figures show almost a million eligible older people are missing out on the entitlement. “The UK Government needs to urgently introduce a pension credit take-up plan that quickly gets money to those that are eligible.” A Government spokesperson said: “We are committed to supporting pensioners – with millions set to see their state pension rise by up to £1,700 this parliament through our commitment to the triple lock .
“Over a million pensioners will still receive the winter fuel payment and our drive to boost pension credit take up has already seen a 152 per cent increase in claims. “Many others will also benefit from the £150 warm home discount to help with energy bills over winter while our extension of the Household Support Fund will help with the cost of food, heating and bills.”.
