Winter fuel payment: Warning more older people to live in poverty

Ms Bowen-Davies said there had been no contingency planning for those who would lose out as a result of the decision.

The UK government said most pensioners would benefit from a rise in the state pension.

It comes as annual gas and electricity prices rise by 10% or £149 in Wales, Scotland and England.

One in six older people in Wales live in poverty, Ms Bowen-Davies pointed out, adding that Wales has a higher proportion of older people than the rest of the UK.

“The reality is that this decision is going to mean that older people, some of them, are going to be pushed further into poverty,” she said.

She added it would also have a “significant” impact on people’s physical and mental health and consequentially on the health and social care system in Wales.