Labour reveal 1,500 pensioners miss out on winter fuel help

York’s Liberal Democrats have expressed serious concern at the Council’s efforts to help pensioners access the new means tested Winter Fuel Payment.

At a Council meeting last year, Labour watered down a Liberal Democrat motion that would have helped 1,639 pensioners apply for the Pension Credit they are entitled to. Those who were successful would automatically receive the means-tested Winter Fuel Payment. Instead, just 310 residents were contacted by the Council and only a third of these are now in receipt of Pension Credit and the Winter Fuel Payment.

This means that over 1,500 pensioners who are eligible for Pension Credit and the Winter Fuel Payment will not get the help they need and are entitled to.

More shockingly, it seems that the Government’s advice to those pensioners not who cannot afford to heat their homes following their decision to withdraw the Winter Fuel Payment from millions of pensioners is to go into debt.

In an interview on BBC Breakfast, Presenter Charlie Stayt asked the Health Secretary, Wes Streeting:

“We've spoken to Age UK this morning in relation to... this coming weekend, people who are cold in their homes. They've said there are two and a half million people who needed the winter fuel allowance who won't receive it because of the changes that were brought in. They are saying they would be advising people if they're cold in their homes and they're elderly and vulnerable to go into debt rather than risk their health. Would you advise the same?” 

In response, Wes Streeting said:

“Well, this is definitely a weekend to turn the heating on, and I'll just remind people that the Chancellor did take the decision to protect winter fuel allowance for the poorest pensioners to protect people this winter and in future winters. And of course, the triple lock on pensions is guaranteed, so the state pension is higher this winter than it was last year, and will be higher further still next year. That's why the Chancellor has taken those decisions to make sure that we protect the vulnerable this winter, but I would certainly agree that this weekend is a weekend to layer up and put the heating on as well.”

York Liberal Democrat Shadow Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care, Cllr Carol Runciman said:

“The Health Secretary has missed the point. Many pensioners cannot afford to turn their heating up thanks to Labour’s ill-conceived decision to scrap Winter Fuel Payments for millions. 

“This decision is compounded locally as York’s Labour Council bosses felt that it was too difficult to help over 1,500 eligible pensioners apply for Pension Credit. They also made the decision to cut Age UK’s Day Clubs for some of the most vulnerable elderly people in York. This was a vital lifeline for pensioners to socialise and have a space to keep warm in the winter.

“We will see the heartbreaking and frankly dangerous consequences of this plan when temperatures drop and older people are left with no option other than to endure freezing temperatures. Instead of asking pensioners to layer up, the Labour Government should instead pay up and reinstate Winter Fuel Payments.”