THE Winter fuel payment “top up” rate of £50 for people over 60 and £100 for those over 80 is to be scrapped, but there was no mention of this in the Budget.
Even Deputy PM Nick Clegg had a memory lapse on a recent BBC phone-in replying he knew nothing about any cut this year dismissing it as “wild allegations”.
For the record the payment – worth £250, or £400 for the over 80s – will be chopped by £50 and £100 respectively this winter.
Gas and electricty has risen 40 per cent since 2008 and 250,000 older households currently live in fuel poverty.
Only last October, Chancellor George Osborne said: “Winter fuel payment will remain exactly as budgeted for by the previous Government, as promised.”
What a joke.
MPs have just handed themselves more to spend on their children, travel, staff and accommodation.
Stephen Dixon, Redcar.
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