Kent charities say pensioners wont cope following government cuts
Sheila Waghorn has lived in her Medway home for her whole life, but for the first time ever doesn't know who to turn to in order to keep the cold away.
Mahima Abedin reports
Mahima Abedin reports
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00:00It might be August, but 89-year-old Sheila from Kent is already bracing for a frosty winter.
00:06With the government announcing its plans to scrap the annual winter fuel payments for those that aren't on pension credit or other benefits,
00:13it means Sheila, who once relied on it to keep her warm, has been left feeling helpless and unsure on where to turn to for help.
00:20I'll be getting cold, I'll have to wrap up more because being 89 and living in a drafty house,
00:27it'll affect me quite a bit. I don't know who to go to for help.
00:32I don't think at my age you should have those worries because it's not only if you've got extra money, pension credit,
00:41there's people without pension credit that need it just as much.
00:45With thousands of pensioners in Kent and beyond expected to be impacted by these cuts,
00:50charities like Emargo that provide support for those struggling in the community
00:54say this will leave the most vulnerable having to make difficult decisions this winter.
00:59They've worked hard all their lives, these people, and for them to be struggling and in the situation they're in I think is terrible.
01:08People struggle as it is and they rely on that fuel payment.
01:15It's always a case of eating or heating for them and we'll have a lot of people I think that will be hungry or cold this winter.
01:27In a statement, a government spokesperson said,
01:45But it's not just Emargo that's feeling the pressure with the decision to cut the payments.
01:50The Dillingham Street Angels, which also provides free support to the local community,
01:54says people are already phoning up and asking for help.
01:58It's a matter of life and death. I think there's people out there who just can't afford to live.
02:01People are panicking, they're already panicking.
02:03You know, maybe means test it, there's people out there who maybe can afford it,
02:07but to just cut the whole lot of everybody, it's just, it's bad, it's a bad idea.
02:13These are just some of the blankets that Neil has ready to be handed out this winter to those that are going to be feeling extra chilly.
02:19Now he says that his charity is already feeling the pressure and fears they will only get worse.
02:24I mean the voluntary sector will do what they can to help.
02:26We've already started collecting warm clothing, blankets up,
02:29but there's a lot of people that don't engage with these services,
02:31who don't engage, they haven't got the internet, they can't find out where us people are.
02:34So I think it's going to be hard.
02:36While these changes won't actually come into force until the 16th of September,
02:40Kent charities are urging those fearful of the winter months ahead to reach out.
02:45Mahima Abedin for KMTV in Gillingham.