The date pensioners will get letters from the government about winter fuel payments

The government will write to vulnerable pensioners next month to warn them they will lose out unless they apply for pension credits before Christmas. Ministers fear as many as 120,000 of the most vulnerable pensioners won’t get the money for their winter fuel bills after chancellor Rachel Reeves ended the payment for millions of older people.

Ministers said the widely criticised change was necessary and blamed the last Conservative government for a £22bn black hole in the public finances. But less well off pensioners can apply for pension credit, under which they would still get the £200-300 winter fuel payment.

Many have not applied for pension credit and some face long delays in processing forms, meaning they still may not receive the cash this winter, The Independent reported.

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Ministers are going to write to tens of thousands of pensioners to remind them they they could still be eligible for the cash. Work and pensions minister Emma Reynolds said in an answer to a parliamentary question: “In November we will also be writing to approximately 120,000 pensioners who are in receipt of housing benefit and who may also be eligible for, but not currently claiming, pension credit. We will be inviting these pensioners to claim pension credit by 21 December.”

Ann Davies, Plaid Cymru’s work and pensions spokesperson, who asked the question, said she was “deeply disappointed” by the government’s refusal to expand winter fuel payment eligibility to include other vulnerable groups. “The impact on pensioners facing rising energy bills and the cost of living crisis could be devastating,” she warned.

“I am also disappointed that these pensioners have yet to be informed, with the DWP only planning to write to them in November. Given delays in processing payments, there’s a real risk they may not receive the money this winter, leaving many to struggle through the bitterly cold winter months without support.”

“Our pensioners deserve to live in warmth, dignity, and security this winter,” she added.

Applications for pension credit, which top up the income of pensioners with less than £218.15 a week to live on, have soared since the chancellor’s announcement.

Even including a period before the change was announced, the average processing time for applications was around eight weeks.

The charity Age UK estimates that under the plans, around two million vulnerable pensioners who need the money will miss out. Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, called on ministers to give winter fuel payments to all pensioners in receipt of housing benefit this 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.”