LIBERAL Democrats across Wychavon have rallied to call on the government for the return of winter fuel payments for pensioners.
Local representatives of the party have urged the Labour Government to ‘change course’ in the face of new statistics showing thousands of pensioners in Wychavon will lose their winter fuel allowance.
In the region, 29,080 pensioners will lose their Winter Fuel Allowance this winter. That means 92.6 per cent of pensioners previously eligible for the benefit will no longer be able to claim.
Under the changes, the benefit will be means tested through an eligibility process. Pensioners will only be eligible if receiving Pension Credit or a list or other benefits.
At a District Council meeting on Wednesday, October 16 councillors unanimously supported the Liberal Democrat motion to write to local MPs asking for them to support pausing the removal of the payment and to push for the introduction of a new threshold to determine eligibility.
The request will also call for the application forms for pension credit to be made simpler to help those who apply.
Following the news, the council has also pledged to support residents with pension credit forms and provide emergency funding to those who need it through a discretionary welfare assistance scheme.
Leader of the Liberal Democrats at Wychavon District Council, councillor Dan Boatright-Greene, said: “Thousands of pensioners in Wychavon are desperately worried about how they will make it through this winter.
“We are especially concerned about vulnerable older pensioners, and I am deeply thankful to all those councillors who supported our motion.”
“We have too many pensioners not claiming the money they are eligible to receive, and I am grateful that Wychavon and our councillors will do all they can to make sure people receive the right information to claim.”
“With the Energy Price Cap going up 10 per cent this month thousands of local pensioners could be pushed into fuel poverty.
“It is time for the government to change course and come up with a fairer system.
“Just because something is hard to do, doesn’t mean they shouldn’t do it.”
In total, around 10 million pensioners will lose their winter fuel payments.
According to the government’s own equality analysis, around 880,000 of those are low income pensioners who rely on the scheme and would be able to retain the payment if they were claiming pension credit (which they are eligible for).
It’s estimated, only 100,000 in need pensioners will successfully be able to make a claim for pension credit – therefore qualifying for winter fuel payments – in time for the changes.
