Pensioners in UK county given free air fryers and slow cookers after winter fuel cut

Pensioners in one UK county will be given free cooking equipment (Image: Getty)

Pensioners in a UK county are set to be given free air fryers and slow cookers in response to the government’s restriction of the Winter Fuel Payment, a council has revealed.

North Lincolnshire, a Conservative-run local authority, said the energy-efficient appliances would be handed out in the new year.

The move comes after the Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that winter fuel payments would be taken away from around 10 million pensioners from winter 2024/2025, saying tough decisions had to be made to prevent economic ruin.

Previously, all pensioners were given payments of £200, with those over £80 every winter towards their energy bills, which have surged in recent years.

But soon after entering Number 11 Downing Street, Reeves announced the move to a means-tested system that sees payments given only to those receiving Pension Credit.

Jamie Oliver makes cheese and chives scones using an air fryer

North Lincolnshire Council had previously announced it would be giving £200 to around 3,000 pensioners on council tax relief who who aren’t eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment, The Telegraph reports.

Rob Waltham, the council leader, said: “We know many pensioners are struggling and rely on the winter fuel payment at the time of year when energy bills soar.

“The £200 will go some way to help but we want to do more, to help older people eat healthy and at the same time reduce their energy bills by using things like air fryers.”

Healthy cooking courses will also be made available in addition to the free appliances, according to reports.

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The council said the money for the cooking equipment and the £200 payment will come from the government’s Household Support Fund.

Air fryers used up less energy than a regular oven due to their small size, and can half cooking times, while slow cookers also use less energy conventional ovens.

Justifying the Winter Fuel Payment changes in a keynote speech to the Labour Party conference in Liverpool in September, Reeves said: “It was made clear to me that failure to act quickly would undermine the UK`s financial position with implications for public debt, mortgages, and price, so I took action to make in-year savings necessary….to target the Winter Fuel Payment to those most in need, with the triple-lock ensuring the State Pension will rise by an estimated £1,700 over the course of this Parliament”.

She went on to accuse the previous Conservative Government of saddling the Treasury with a £22 Billion “black hole” in the public finances, as per CSPA.