Pensioner horrified by cost of bills in 2025 after being denied Winter Fuel Payment

A British woman was left horrified by her first fuel bill of 2025 (stock) (Image: Getty)

A British pensioner has admitted she was left horrified by the cost of her first gas and electricity bills of 2025.

It comes after Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves announced in September that from winter 2024/2025, households in England and Wales will no longer be entitled to the Winter Fuel Payment unless they receive Pension Credit or certain other means-tested benefit - potentially affecting millions of households.

Wendy Love took to TikTok to slam the change after making a payment to her energy provider. "I've just paid my gas and electricity bill for 29 days of usage," she began in a video. "I read the meters and thought I'll just check and see how much I've used - I've had the heating on because it's been so cold."

She was left shocked, however, after being told she needed to cough up £240 for just over four weeks fuel. "That's a hell of a lot of money for 29 days," Wendy fumed. "The government has taken away our Winter Fuel Allowance - I don't know how poeple manage, I really don't."

Wendy went on to highlight the plight of those who are just on an "old age pension" and live alone who now face a situation that is "not viable". She then took aim at Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer and hit out: "You can't survive on that."

"Mine was over £200 and I’m a pensioner living alone," another woman penned in response, prompting Wendy to sympathise: "It is so unfair what, I am sorry you are going through this, even worse when you are on your own."

Another TikTok user fumed: "It's like going back to the dark ages when houses didn't have gas and electric... now we have it we can't afford it." A third cursed: "Mine was the same, I work from home, I am 62 and mentally worn out. Don’t enjoy life, just exist and now Wi-Fi has gone up £8 too - we are being robbed."

A fourth person shared their alternative solution: "Haven’t had my heating on once yet, we have a wood burner in the living room, electric throws for the sofa and electric blankets on the beds, just have to think outside the central heating box." Meanwhile a fifth defended the PM, adding: "I've had mine on, pay £90 a month gas and electric and I don't sit in the cold. It builds up through the summer and I'm on my own, I dont blame him."

In better news, however, state pensioners are set for an "automatic" £150 boost to help with energy bill costs as the weather gets colder. The Warm Home Discount scheme, provided by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), applies directly to the electricity bills of vulnerable households whose energy suppliers participate in the programme.

The scheme began in October, with payments starting in November. Most eligible households should have received a confirmation letter by now, detailing their entitlement. Rather than being paid as cash, the discount is automatically deducted from electricity bills.

However, the timing of the discount varies depending on the energy provider, with the final deadline for payments set for March 2025.

First introuduced in 1997, the Winter Fuel Payment amounts have varied over the years - but most commonly have been £200 for households where the oldest person is under 80 - with payments of £300 for households with someone aged 80 or over.