Research carried out by Labour shows that, between 2015 and 2016, there were 14,780 winter fuel payment recipients and 2,900 pension credit recipients in Enfield North. Furthermore, a pensioner living in an average home of £275,000 in the constituency could be liable to pay £175,000 towards their care costs. Pensioners would be at least £330 worse off under the Tories' new 'double lock' on pensions had it been in place between 2013/14 and 2017/18, compared with the basic state pension being uprated by the 'triple lock'. Joan Ryan said:
"It's disgraceful that the Conservative Party is putting the financial security of older people living in Enfield North at risk. Means testing the Winter Fuel Allowance will remove financial support from thousands of our pensioners to heat their homes. Older people who need care may also be forced to pay for it with their family home – and the Prime Minister's u-turn on capping social care costs offers little comfort to pensioners when Theresa May has given no indication of what that cap might be. Our pensioners deserve a secure and dignified retirement. That's why, if I am re-elected on Thursday 8 June, I will campaign to protect both the Winter Fuel Allowance and the 'triple lock' on state pensions, as well as make sure we have the local health services that can provide essential care for older people."