A tough winter without the fuel payment

A pensioner is managing on just one meal a day and doesn’t use heating in her home after losing her winter fuel payment this year.

Maria Liljefors told i news that her daily meal consists of sardines, boiled potatoes and salad because she “can’t afford anything at the moment”.

Going without

At 84, Maria has no savings and relies on the full basic state pension along with a small workplace pension, amounting to about £200 each week.

Unfortunately, she isn’t eligible for pension credit, which puts her among 10 million pensioners facing a loss of hundreds of pounds this winter.

Mum of two Maria didn’t use her heating at all last year. Her small flat in Devon is “always cold”. To cope, she wears two jumpers, wraps herself in blankets, and uses two duvets on her bed.

The former costume designer carefully limits her water, gas and electricity usage and anticipates a harder winter ahead.

Maria’s been dealt a double blow as not only will she miss out on the winter fuel payment, she’s also facing higher energy bills after the energy price cap increase on 1 October.

Are you in a similar position?

Sadly, Maria’s experience will be familiar to many – around 130,000 pensioners may miss out on crucial support because they are just over the threshold by up to £500 a year.

Up to 880,000 households who are eligible for pension credit aren’t claiming it yet, so it’s worth checking if you can get it.

Any applications will need to be made by 21 December, the final date for making a backdated claim to receive a winter fuel payment this year.

If you’re not eligible for pension credit, support is still available. You might be able to get a charitable grant. Hundreds of grants are available for pensioners via Turn2Us’ grant checker.

Finally, the household support fund has been extended for another six months until 31 March 2025. Keep an eye on your local council website for further details, including information about how to apply.