Winter fuel payment: Pensioner reacts to Stormont decision

She added: “I just feel that we got through the pandemic, we’re getting back to normal but now what little we have left and got back to normal, they’ve taken it all away again.”

Ms Greenan said she expected Stormont to follow Westminster’s lead, but said the decision is a “disgrace”.

“It’s going to be heat or eat this winter for a lot of people, going to bed earlier, getting up later and saving every penny they can because it is difficult to heat your house in the winter time,” she said.

Ms Greenan said she understands the “Northern Ireland government is trying to make the money go as far as possible and improve the health service and improve other services as well”.

But she added: “Money just isn’t there, I wish they would give us something, maybe they’ll surprise us.”