A pensioner in Wales plans to use his recent lottery win to heat his home this winter after the scrapping of the winter fuel allowance. David Upton, 75 years old and residing in Church Gresley, Derbyshire, is one of many pensioners affected by the removal of the winter fuel allowance. The recent decision was made following the announcement by Chancellor for the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, who stated the necessity of tough cuts, including the winter fuel bonus, due to a budget deficit of £22 billion after the Conservative government passed the responsibility to the new administration in July.
Mr. Upton, a loyal participant of the Pick My Postcode lottery, has been visiting the site daily since signing up in 2017. He recently won £305 through the lottery, enabling him to cover the lost winter fuel allowance amount. The win came from a Survey draw prize, usually £50, that had not been claimed in ten days, resulting in a roll-over and a larger jackpot of £500. Sharing the prize with another winner, Mr. Upton received £250, in addition to his personal bonus of £56.53. This windfall allowed him to compensate for the cut in fuel support.
Expressing his delight, Mr. Upton shared, “I’m over the moon. I have never won anything before. This win couldn’t come at a better time, with the fuel allowance being taken off pensioners like me. Thank you a million times over. Never give up. I’m not a lucky person but Pick My Postcode has proved me wrong.” Since its inception in 2011, the Pick My Postcode initiative, funded by revenues from advertisements and market research, has awarded over £2.6 million to participants.
Chris Holbrook, the founder of Pick My Postcode, commented, “Whether you agree with the government’s money-saving measure or not, you can’t disagree with free money. We’re so glad to be able to come to the rescue just in time.” The story of Mr. Upton using his lottery win to address the impact of the winter fuel allowance cut highlights the challenges faced by pensioners in the current economic climate and the role of initiatives like the Pick My Postcode lottery in supporting individuals during difficult times.