A pensioner who feels the cold intensely as a result of her blood cancer says her husband is taking cold showers to slash their energy bills after narrowly missing the winter fuel allowance threshold.
Pritpal Kaur, 73, has the blood cancer myeloma and is recovering after gruelling chemotherapy. She says her condition means she finds it bitterly cold, particularly as they live in an old and draughty home.
She had to use a hot water bottle – even in the summer months – and is dreading winter as a result of being £8 over the threshold to qualify for the government’s £200-£300 winter fuel payment.
Ministers have faced a backlash from MPs and charities since Rachel Reeves announced in July that the winter fuel allowance was being axed for 10m pensioners, with only those on lower incomes who receive pension credit able to receive the money.
Ms Kaur says she and her husband Rajinder Singh, 77, relied heavily on the winter fuel payment and are now having to take drastic measures to lower their bills.
“We want to avoid putting the heating on too much because the energy bills have gone up so much and it is so difficult now they have taken the £300 winter fuel allowance away. That money made such a difference.
“My husband has actually started having cold showers now because hot showers cost so much. He is making that sacrifice for me to save money as he would sooner I used it to keep warm as he knows I feel the cold more because of my myeloma.”
Ms Kaur, who lives in Harlington, west London, with her husband and 44-year-old daughter, told i she is trying to cut down on putting the heating on by wearing extra layers of clothes, using an electric blanket and keeping her hot water bottle with her.
After finishing her chemotherapy treatment, even though she is now on medication for the rest of her life for myeloma, she has returned to her job as a shop assistant and is working two days a week to bring in some extra money.
“I feel so angry and sick inside knowing that I have worked all my life and given so much to this country, but I am still having to work,” she said.
“I would love to retire as I am going to turn 74 this month and I have never had any time to relax and enjoy life, but instead I’m still having to work to pay the bills and try to make ends meet.”
It comes as Reeves is planning what she has described as “the biggest pension reform in decades” in an attempt to boost economic growth.
The government wants to merge the UK’s 86 council pension schemes into a handful of “pension megafunds”.
It is hoped the changes will lead to billions of pounds being invested in the UK in areas such as energy infrastructure, tech start-ups and public services.
But Ms Kaur told i the needs of struggling older people are being neglected and working class people like her who are on a small pension and just miss out on benefits are losing out.
The application system for pension credit has been criticised for its lengthy form with 243 questions which pensioners must answer in order to secure their winter fuel payment. Many older people have also complained that they are facing a backlog in the system.
“It makes me very angry,” said Ms Kaur. “The reason I voted for Labour was because I thought they cared about working class people.
“It is very sad what they’ve done and I wish I hadn’t voted for them now as they haven’t done anything for older people.
“Our energy bill is usually £100 a month, so stopping our winter fuel payment means we are now going to be three months short. That’s one of the reasons I have gone back to work despite my illness, as I can’t afford not to.
“The Prime Minister doesn’t seem to realise the problems ordinary people like me are having and getting rid of the winter fuel payment for most pensioners has hit people like me hard.
“I have blood cancer and am vulnerable and the Government didn’t consider the impact on people in my situation.
“The winter fuel payment should not have been cut as it will really affect older people.
“I am already feeling miserable and it’s making me feel so sad as I feel so cold. I just don’t know if I can make it through the winter.”
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% 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.
“In the longer term we will bring together the administration of Pension Credit and Housing Benefit as soon as operationally possible, so that pensioner households receiving Housing Benefit also receive any Pension Credit to which they are entitled.”