No further pensioner support over winter fuel, No 10 says

The prime minister’s deputy spokesperson said the government would “continue to urge people to check their eligibility” for pension credit and to “support people in making those applications”.

The spokesperson said there had been 38,500 pension credit claims in the last five weeks.

In comparison, there had been 17,900 claims over the five weeks before Ms Reeves announced the payment would only be available to those on certain benefits in July.

The PM’’s spokesperson said this was a 115% increase, but added the campaign to get pensioners to sign up was “ongoing” and there was “still more to do”.

Government figures had suggested there were about 800,000 households who were eligible for pension credit but did not claim it.

Asked if Sir Keir accepted the withdrawal of the payments could lead to deaths of some older people, she said “the focus of the government is ensuring that there is a range of support available to help those struggling with the cost of living and energy bills this winter”.

The spokesperson said the prime minister had been clear “he would always support pensioners” and pointed to the triple lock, a policy that increases the state pension from April each year.

He was being “straight with the public” about the “context of the £22bn black hole” and the need to make sure that support is “targeted”, the spokesperson added.