An estimated 225,000 pensioners in Norfolk and Waveney risk losing the £300 winter fuel payment because of government cuts, new data from the Department of Work and Pensions has revealed.
The figures, compiled by the House of Commons Library, notably also show that North Norfolk has the fourth-highest number of people in the country who could be affected.
There are an estimated 25,796 pensioners in the district who do not receive pension credit. They would lose the winter fuel allowance under the government's plans, unless they receive other benefits.
Only Christchurch and West Dorset in the south west, and Clacton in Essex, have higher numbers.
Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer and chancellor Rachel Reeves have said they need to scrap the payment, other than for those receiving pension credit or other means-tested benefits, to help fill a £22bn black hole in public finances.
But the move has sparked a backlash and calls for a U-turn, with pressure from within Labour, political opponents and campaigners.
The Liberal Democrats have tabled a parliamentary motion for next week seeking to block the Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2024, published by the government last week, from becoming law.
Steffan Aquarone, Lib Dem MP for North Norfolk, said: "Countless pensioners across north Norfolk are worried about losing this vital support and how they will afford their energy bills this winter.
"Stripping support from many of the poorest pensioners just when energy bills are set to rise again, is simply wrong.
"It could force vulnerable elderly people in our community to choose between eating and heating this winter."
READ MORE: Norfolk fears over end of 'vital' Household Support Fund
The Conservatives have put forward an early day motion to challenge the government to hold a debate on winter fuel payments.
Mid Norfolk MP George Freeman, who has signed the motion along with his leader Rishi Sunak, said: "Parliament needs to be able to debate this important issue.
"Whilst I am generally in favour of targeting benefits to those who most need it, in rural areas like Mid Norfolk, pensioners have been clobbered with the extraordinary increases in the cost of energy and the cost of living due to the pandemic fallout and Putin's war in Ukraine.
"I am committed to standing up for our pensioners on this issue and holding the government to account."
Ms Reeves said: "When I became chancellor, I took an immediate audit of the spending situation to understand the scale of that challenge, and I made difficult decisions to put the public finances on a sustainable footing.
"They were tough decisions, but they were the right decisions.
"This includes the decision to make the winter fuel payment better targeted so pensioners who need it most will get it alongside pension credits."
She said the basic state pension was worth £900 more than a year ago and would go up again next April, because of the triple lock the new labour government Labour has committed to for the duration of Parliament.
The triple lock, first introduced by the coalition government, guarantees the state pension will rise by inflation, average wage growth, or 2.5pc - whichever is highest.
Ms Reeves added the government is working with local authorities to boost the take-up of pension credit.
Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said restricting the winter fuel payment to those on pension credit was "reckless and wrong" and "spells disaster for pensioners on low and modest incomes".
How many pensioners might be affected in other Norfolk and Waveney constituencies?
Waveney Valley (23,123)
North West Norfolk (22,754)
Broadland (22,316)
Mid Norfolk (21,654)
South West Norfolk (21,379)
Lowestoft (20,863)
Great Yarmouth (19,398)
South Norfolk (18,567)
Norwich North (16,956)
Norwich South (13,686)
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