NEARLY half of pensioners who lose their winter fuel allowance are planning to only heat and live in one room, a survey shows.

A fifth of people were already planning to do this but an extra 29 per cent will undertake the extreme measure as a result of the cut.

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The survey comes as campaigners hand in more than 500,000 signatures calling on Ministers to protect the payment worth up to £300.

Some 44 per cent of older people said the benefit axe would have a harmful impact on their physical health over the winter months.

The new polling for Independent Age also revealed 43 per cent of older people are planning on wearing outdoor clothes while indoors such as hats and coats.

Figures show that only 65 per cent of eligible older people receive Pension Credit allowing them to receive the benefit. But it means 760,000 eligible households will lose out on the cash this year.

The Chancellor announced in July that the benefit would be means-tested as she said she had to fill a £22 billion financial black hole left by the Tory administration.

Joanna Elson, boss of Independent Age, said: “Tying the Winter Fuel Payment to Pension Credit now will see far too many older people fall through the cracks.

“Pension Credit still has a stubbornly low take up and in addition there is a large group of older people living just above the entitlement’s threshold, sometimes by just a few pounds.

“People in this situation will now have this vital money taken away from them.”

Meanwhile, it emerged that the government is facing a £100 million bill for the state pension next year under the triple lock guarantee.

The benefit rises every year in line with the highest of wages, inflation or 2.5 per cent.

Official figures show wage growth at 4 per cent in the three months to July which is set to determine the increase.