Winter Fuel Payment prevents avoidable winter deaths

"Age UK supports the continuation of older people's universal benefits because they are the best way we have of getting extra help to those who need it, and because older people tell us they value them highly.

"In addition, research increasingly shows both how significant the needs they are designed to address often are for older people, and how effective universal benefits can be in meeting them.

"For example, recent peer-reviewed research strongly suggests that the UK's shameful record on avoidable winter deaths would be considerably worse were it not for the existence of the Winter Fuel Payment."