Mary Glindon MP. Urging change on winter fuel payments

Many people have been in touch with me about the impact of the decision to means test once universal Winter Fuel Payments.

I am urging the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves to look at ways the cut to Winter Fuel Payments can be mitigated or lessened as she comes to conclusions in the current line by line review of public spending.

I’ve strongly welcomed the good news of the rise in the state pension that was announced in the Autumn Budget and which is reaching pensioners soon.

I’ve also pointed out that the benefits of the increase will not be felt as much as they could. This is because further increases in energy costs this Spring and the continuing cost of living crisis means that the uplift does not compensate for the Winter Fuel Payments they have lost out on.

This winter, the cut has had a devastating impact on my constituents who are not eligible for Pension Credit. The two local authorities in my constituency have used part of their Household Support Fund allocation to provide payments to people of pensionable age on a low-income and claiming Council Tax Support and/or Housing Benefit but are not receiving Pension Credit.

I commend local government’s efforts but it is clear that this has not been enough. According to Age UK, 74% of pensioners in the North East living in poverty or just £55 a week above the poverty line will no longer receive the Winter Fuel Payment.

Living standards have been decimated over recent years under previous governments and I welcome the Government’s commitment to boost Real Household Disposable Income.

I have asked the Chancellor to reconsider partial or even full reinstatement of the universal Winter Fuel Payment. We must do all we can, albeit in difficult conditions, to help poor pensioners.