Tens of thousands of pensioners in Glasgow will lose the Winter Fuel Payment this year.

Not long after winning the election, the Labour UK Government announced it was scrapping the payment for pensioners unless they get pension credit.

In Scotland the benefit is devolved but the Scottish Government said the resulting cut in their budget of £160m means it has no option but to follow the decision.

Unless it is reversed in the Budget this month, the cut will remove around £15million from pensioners in Glasgow this winter.

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The Glasgow Times has analysed the official UK Government statistics for the state pension and pension credit to uncover how many people will lose out.

In the city, almost 60,000 of the most vulnerable people, will lose the payment this winter.

Campaigners and advocates for older people have branded the decision a “scandal” and urge Chancellor Rachel Reeves to reverse the decision in her budget this month.

The records show there are 80,531 people in Glasgow getting the state pension.

There are  21,409 who receive Pension Credit and they will still get the payment this year.

It means 59,122 pensioners will lose the assistance at a time when energy bills are set to increase as the Ofgem cap was raised.

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The Winter Fuel payment is worth £200 for pensioners and £300 for those over 80.

It means that somewhere between £11.8m and £17.7m will be taken away from the city’s pensioners.

Across the city 73% of all pensioners will lose the payment.

Using the latest available statistics we are able to highlight the areas in Glasgow that are most affected by the decision.

In Anniesland, there are 1735 pensioners and just 277 get pension credit meaning 1458 miss out.

In Baillieston 1310 will lose the payment.

Broomhill 702 will face the cut, Cardonald 1926, Carntyne 867, Castlemilk 530, Cranhill 583 and Darnley, 1151,

 In Dalmarnock, 241, out of 451 pensioners will be worse off, In Drumchapel 378, more than half the 616 pensioners.

In Garrowhill almost all pensioners are affected. Out of 1566 on the state pension, just 160 get pension Credit and will still receive the payment.

The cut off for Pension Credit is just over £11,000.  In many areas of Glasgow, there are pensioners with their own private or workplace pension who are above the threshold.

In more affluent areas like Kelvinside and Jordanhill, this means of the 1061 pensioners only 66 will be eligible for the payment this year.

In other, less affluent, and some of the most deprived there are still higher numbers of people who will lose out, either because they are not claiming the Pension Credit they are due or are just above the threshold.

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In Keppochhill more than half will miss out with just 221 out of 523 pensioners eligible.

In Possilpark, only 433 of 1102 pensioners will qualify. In Milton, it is similar with just 385 of 1148 pensioners still eligible for the cash and 763 ( 66%) left to find extra cash from somewhere to meet their bills.

In Parkhead and Shettleston out of 1779 pensioners, 792 will get the payment, meaning almost 1000 will lose out.

In Knightswood, another area with a high number of older people, almost three out of four pensioners will be worse off this winter when the bills come in.

Of the 2235 state pensioners, just 608 qualify under the new rules meaning 1627 (72%) will be without the £200 or £300 they got up until now.

The move sparked anger and campaigners are demanding a rethink.

Adam Stachura, director of policy at Age Scotland, said: “We have been campaigning to re-instate the Winter Fuel Payment.

“It was taken away too quickly without consideration of the impact. People have no time to plan what to do.

“There are a huge number just above the threshold who will lose out.

“At least half of all pensioners are reliant on the State Pension for their income.

“The beauty of the Winter Fuel Payment was everyone who needed it got it.”

He said there was no consultation or discussion beforehand.

Mr Stachura added: “It is a scandalous disregard for people’s health and lives. There has been no proper analysis of its impact.

“It has been taken away in a puff of smoke. There is no understanding of how important this amount of money is for so many people.”

More than half a million people have signed the Age UK petition to save the winter Fuel Payment for all pensioners.

It states: “Cutting the Winter Fuel Payment this winter, with virtually no notice and no compensatory measures to protect poor and vulnerable pensioners, is the wrong policy decision. “

 More details are here https://www.agescotland.org.uk/

Age Scotland helpline 0800 12 44 222