Find Out Now conducted a survey of 4000 over-65s on 11th September, to ask their views on the government’s proposed changes to the Winter Fuel Payment.

The key findings:

• Almost all (98 per cent) had heard of the government’s plan to withdraw the Winter Fuel Payment from pensioners who aren’t entitled to pension credit or other means-tested benefits
• Less than 1 in 5 (19 per cent) say they support the government’s plan. Instead 79 per cent oppose it, including 69 per cent who ‘strongly oppose’
• Of those who voted for the Labour Party at the last election, more support the plan (38 per cent) but the majority (60 per cent) are still opposed, with a plurality (46 per cent) saying they ‘strongly oppose’ it
• 59 per cent say the plan will have a big impact on their budget this winter, to 35 per cent who say it will not have a big impact

When asked how this made them feel about the Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his government, there were several common threads to their responses. A selection:

• “Taking the hard decisions necessary to start addressing the awful mess inherited from the Tories. Keir Starmer has made a great start and inspires optimism for the long term future of the country”
• “Taking from the most vulnerable, didn’t vote for him and never would and I’ve voted Labour all my voting life”
• “Early days, but not too impressed by the apparent plans to target pensioners rather than the rich”
• “I still support them but this is a mistake”
• “Very disappointed, especially going forward and wondering what next. His priorities seem to be rewarding people already on high incomes and allowing record numbers of migrants into a country that is by his own reckoning is already stretched financially”
• “It took the Tories 13 years to screw it up. It has only taken Labour 6 weeks”
• “I didn’t vote for them as I’ve experience of Labour governments before. It doesn’t surprise me they’ve done this but I am disgusted and sorry they’ve proved so early in their term how rubbish they’re going to be”
• “It wasn’t the best move to do to keep pensioners votes. However, the winter fuel allowance shouldn’t be given automatically to wealthy people who don’t really need it”
• “How can the first major policy announced by a LABOUR government be an attack on pensioners. Why not go after the big corporations avoiding their proper tax bills or the billionnaires…No, obviously those crafty old pensioners grabbing a whole £500 a year must be dealt with first”

Full results and question wordings are below:

There has recently been a vote in Parliament on the government’s plan to withdraw the Winter Fuel Payment from pensioners who aren’t entitled to pension credit or other means-tested benefits. Have you heard about this?: Live link | Segmentation report
This means the Winter Fuel Payment will be means-tested and only given to the poorest, instead of a universal benefit given to all pensioners. Do you support or oppose this proposal?: Live link | Segmentation report
Which best describes the personal impact of this proposal for you?: Live link | Segmentation report
How does this plan make you feel about the Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his government?: Live link | Segmentation report