A local man says he feels compelled to sell his cherished guitars to cover his energy bills this winter, following the government’s decision to stop the £300 winter fuel payment for millions of pensioners.
David Walker, known locally for his involvement in community groups and as the town’s former Carers’ Champion, has described the situation as ‘dismaying’ and ‘disillusioning.’ “It’s disillusioning that I’m having to sell things that mean so much to me, but I have nothing else,” said David. One of his guitars holds particular sentimental value, as it was used to play music for his late wife, Georgina, who had Alzheimer’s disease. David, who was an unpaid carer for Georgina for 12 years, explained that music was one of the few things she could still enjoy as her illness progressed.
David’s financial challenges follow the government’s recent changes to the Winter Fuel Payment. Previously, all pensioners were entitled to a £300 payment to help with heating costs. However, earlier this year, the newly elected Labour government restricted the payment to those on low incomes who receive certain benefits. “Cutting the winter fuel allowance was not a financial decision; I believe it was a political decision, a way of getting back at pensioners who typically are Conservative voters,” says David. “I also feel people do not realise the big impact that losing £300 can have to people like me, who probably on the face of it, look quite nice and settled, but this is all I have got. Like millions of other pensioners, throughout my working career I paid my National Insurance contributions and also into the pension scheme of the various companies I worked for. It was never going to lead to a luxurious retirement but at least I would be able to maintain a reasonable standard of living.”
However, David explained that his financial situation changed unexpectedly. “From 2010 until 2021, like many other pensioners, I was an unpaid carer for my wife who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. The costs associated with caring had the inevitable impact on our finances to the extent that the savings and investments intended to support our retirement income had to be used to support her care. There is no longer that financial safety net.” David says that some increased costs such as the projected increase in energy bills over the winter months have been difficult to budget for and the £300 winter fuel allowance would have made up for any shortfall. He now hopes that selling his guitars will help to make up the shortfall.
“I am not alone, millions of pensioners (and unpaid carers) will find themselves in the same situation. Losing £300 does not sound like very much, but it is the principle of it and the way it is being done, as well as the financial impact. I wanted to bring some attention to it as well,” he added. 
He spends a fortune year in year out on gardening and plant and now claiming he can’t pay for gas & electricity? He’s such a horrible person he makes our life hell living near him