'I'm 70 struggling on £200 a week - Winter Fuel Payment cut means I can't afford heating'

A 70-year-old pensioner who lives “hand to mouth” says the scrapping of his Winter Fuel Payment will force him to choose between heating his home and eating this winter.

Simon Moss, a retired customer service assistant from Sunderland, lives on just £219 a week in a cold housing association bungalow and dreads the months ahead.

Mr Moss said: “Life is a struggle. I never go out, I hardly drink anymore. I’m scared for the winter.”

Mr Moss is one of 11.8 million people in the UK who say they don't have enough to live on, according to Christians Against Poverty (CAP). Their new report shows that CAP clients are, on average, £273 a month short of what they need to cover essentials like food, energy bills, and rent.

A few years ago, Mr Moss sought help from CAP after being referred by his housing association, Gentoo. Through CAP’s Debt Relief Order, he became debt-free, but his financial worries remain constant.

Despite his modest pension from past retail jobs and his state pension, Mr Moss narrowly misses out on qualifying for the Winter Fuel Payment – a lifeline for many pensioners that was capped by the Labour Government this year. It’s thought that 10 million pensioners previously eligible will now miss out due to the stricter qualifying criteria.

Mr Moss feels the loss of this support keenly, particularly as CAP estimates nearly half of their clients live with a "deficit budget," where income doesn't cover basic living costs.

CAP said: “We can see that chronically low incomes are devastating the lives of millions of people across the UK - damaging people’s wellbeing, affecting families and impacting health and welfare services.”

Mr Moss describes his daily life as "living hand to mouth," having cancelled all luxuries. He said: “It’s a case of constantly robbing Peter to pay Paul.

"I've learned over the past few months to cancel everything I used to have—no Sky TV, just Freeview, and I hardly ever go out or drink anymore.

“I've had to give up smoking, which I guess is one good thing."

With rent after housing benefit set at £60 a week and a strict monthly shopping budget, Mr Moss’s finances leave no room for comfort. He said he also tries to support his son and daughter-in-law, both of whom are on Universal Credit and are not working, which adds to his strain.

On top of these challenges, Mr Moss is currently in a dispute over council tax payments as he's struggling to keep up with the direct debits. He said: "I’m one of millions who are overlooked every day by local and national Government decisions."

Expressing frustration with the Government’s withdrawal of pensioner support this winter, Mr Moss said: "I'm not being greedy, but I do think that this withdrawal of support for pensioners is wrong. I feel like we're overlooked and forgotten. They don’t take us into consideration at all."

He said the thought of enduring another winter like the last one but without any help from the Government fills him with anxiety.

Mr Moss said: "Last year, it was freezing. I wasn’t putting the heating on unless I absolutely had to, which is why I'm in dispute with my provider. I was barely using it, and if we get a cold winter this year, I’m dreading it."

Stewart McCulloch, Christians Against Poverty's chief executive, said: "This report shows the brutal reality of living with a deficit budget. We can't afford the welfare and health costs of this tragedy.

“Our expert debt advisors, alongside local churches we partner with, are continuing to help thousands of people across the UK to become debt-free.

“11 million people living lives of hidden desperation is utterly unacceptable. We can’t afford the welfare and health costs of this tragedy. We are all affected by the strains this puts on our society. The time has come to act."