Hundreds of thousands of people received winter fuel payments last year in Sussex.

The Department for Work and Pensions has published the figures for 2023-24 by parliamentary constituency.

The data has revealed that during that period, a total of 366,032 people aged 66 and above in Sussex received between £200 and £300 to assist with fuel costs.

Two Sussex constituencies were in the top ten highest by recipients, which were Bexhill and Battle with 27,483 and Bognor Regis and Littlehampton with 27,479.

Meanwhile, the lowest of the Sussex constituencies was Brighton Pavilion with 11,480.

The allowance is currently being quashed by the government due to a reported “£22 billion black hole in public finances” left behind by the previous Conservative government.

READ MORE: Winter fuel payments cut: How did your MP vote?

Households in England and Wales will no longer be entitled to the winter fuel payment unless they receive pension credit or certain other means-tested benefits from this winter, as announced by the chancellor of the exchequer, Rachel Reeves.

On September 10, five Sussex MPs voted against the Conservative motion to block the cut, therefore supporting the axing of winter fuel payments, including Hove MP Peter Kyle, Helena Dollimore (Hastings and Rye), Peter Lamb (Crawley), Tom Rutland (East Worthing and Shoreham) and Chris Ward (Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven).

A larger number of Sussex MPs, 11, voted to support the block and therefore against the cut to winter fuel payments - Alison Bennett (Mid Sussex), Josh Babarinde (Eastbourne), Jess Brown-Fuller (Chichester), James MacCleary (Lewes), John Milne (Horsham), Kieran Mullan (Bexhill and Battle), Alison Griffiths (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton), Andrew Griffith (Arundel and South Downs), Jess Brown-Fuller (Chichester), Mims Davies (East Grinstead and Uckfield) and Sian Berry (Brighton Pavilion).

The MPs for Worthing West, Beccy Cooper, and Sussex Weald, Nusrat Ghani, abstained from the vote, due to illness and the fact that Ms Ghani is Deputy Speaker of the House.

On the vote, Sian Berry said: “The reckless plan to cut winter fuel payments amounts to an unjustified and cruel assault on pensioners’ finances, mental and physical health.

Sian Berry was among the 11 Sussex MPs who opposed the cut to winter fuel payments Sian Berry was among the 11 Sussex MPs who opposed the cut to winter fuel payments (Image: UK Parliament) “While the lack of more substantial opposition from Labour MPs is a disappointing signal that most will answer only to the Labour whips – and not to their constituents or their conscience.”

Here is the full list of Sussex constituencies and how many received winter fuel payments last year: 

  • Bexhill & Battle (Con) 27,483
  • Bognor Regis & Littlehampton (Con) 27,479
  • Arundel & South Downs (Con) 26,991
  • Chichester (Lib Dems) 26,796
  • Lewes (Lib Dems) 25,723
  • Worthing West (Lab) 25,042 
  • Eastbourne (Lib Dems) 23,500
  • Sussex Weald (Con) 22,535 
  • Hastings & Rye (Lab) 21,796
  • Worthing East & Shoreham (Lab) 21,121
  • East Grinstead & Uckfield (Con) 21,087
  • Horsham (Lib Dems) 19,868
  • Mid Sussex (Lib Dems) 18,935
  • Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven (Lab) 16,472
  • Crawley (Lab) 15,116
  • Hove & Portslade (Lab) 14,608
  • Brighton Pavilion (Green) 11,480