Council considers fuel bill support for welfare advice service
A local public information campaign could be launched to help ensure Lancashire pensioners do not lose their winter fuel allowance unnecessarily. Lancashire County Council is considering extra funding for its welfare advice service to boost the take-up of pension credit.
Access to that benefit now determines who will receive the annual winter fuel payment following the government’s decision to scrap the previously universal allowance for all but the poorest pensioners. It comes as one Lancashire Labour MP says the threshold that has now been set for entitlement to the annual support – worth £200 to those over 66 and £300 to the over-80s – risks excluding residents who are still in need of it.
In order to be eligible for the winter fuel allowance, a single person must now have a weekly income of less than £218.15 and a couple less than £332.95 – meaning more than 252,000 Lancashire residents who used to get the payment will no longer do so. Lorraine Beavers, who represents Blackpool North and Fleetwood, was one of more than 50 Labour parliamentarians not to take part in a Commons vote on Tuesday in which the Conservatives attempted to block the changes.
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She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that she was unable to participate in the proceedings, because she was on compassionate leave following a recent bereavement. However, she has now called on her party to tweak its controversial plans.
“The previous Conservative government left us with the public finances in a dire state – and it is right that the government is taking steps to repair this. I am of the view, however, that the threshold now set for receipt of winter fuel payments is too low and I urge the government to take any steps to mitigate the impact of this – including looking at linking payments to council tax banding, as has been suggested by [consumer finance expert] Martin Lewis, as well as other proposals.
“I will also be working to ensure all residents of Blackpool North and Fleetwood who are entitled to Pension Credit are signed up for it – and I encourage anyone who needs assistance to contact my office,” said Ms. Beavers, a long-serving county and Wyre borough councillor, who was elected to Parliament at this summer’s general election.
Three other Lancashire Labour MPs – fellow Westminster newbies Chris Webb, who serves Blackpool South, and Hyndburn MP Sarah Smith – along with Lancaster and Wyre’s Cat Smith, also failed to register a vote on Tuesday. The LDRS has approached them or their offices for comment.
Eight others voted for the reduction in entitlement, while Fylde Conservative Andrew Snowden and Blackburn independent Adnan Hussian opposed the change. As well as potentially attempting to increase applications for pension credit, Lancashire County Council is also exploring the possibility of enhancing schemes to provide short-term support to struggling elderly residents with their energy bills in the wake of the winter fuel allowance cut.
Alan Vincent, deputy leader of the Tory-run authority, told the LDRS that it was awaiting government advice about the rules for the recently extended Household Support Fund (HSF), under which local authorities can provide discretionary grants to residents in need of help with essentials – including heating bills. In its most recent iteration of the fund – first introduced as the cost-of-living crisis took hold in 2022 – the county council received £9.6m, most of which it then distributed to district authorities like Preston, Wyre and Burnley, to use as they saw fit.
Pending a thorough consultation with those second-tier local councils, County Cllr Vincent said there was potential for a “county-wide scheme” to be established to help those having to cope without winter fuel allowance for the first time this year. He also said County Hall could invest some of the cash in the warm and welcome spaces initiative that has operated across Lancashire for the past two years, through which libraries and other community facilities open their doors to people looking to escape cold homes that they cannot afford to heat. However, County Cllr Vincent admitted that usage had previously been “patchy” in some areas.
Further investment could also be made in the Cosy Homes in Lancashire initiative, which helps people access grants to improve the energy efficiency of their homes – and so lower their heating bills.
“If the winter fuel payment is not going to be made for ever more, then that becomes even more important. So we will be looking at whether we can enhance the insulation scheme, which obviously helps makes those houses warmer,” County Cllr Vincent said.
He added: “I am deeply concerned about the impact of the withdrawal of winter fuel Payments from some of our most vulnerable residents. It will have a devastating impact on many…particularly those living in rural areas. With homes in these locations often being less energy efficient and lacking access to mains gas, they rely on expensive alternatives like oil and wood. This, combined with the prospect of rising energy bills, is putting increased financial pressure on households.
“We know that many recipients of these payments are on incomes as low as £13,000 and, with energy bills set to rise again, there is a real risk that some of our most vulnerable residents will be forced to choose between heating and eating.”
WHAT ABOUT BLACKPOOL AND BLACKBURN?
Elsewhere in Lancashire, Blackpool Council is also encouraging residents who may be eligible for pension credit to apply for it. They will continue to receive the winter fuel allowance if they make a successful pension credit application by December 21. The authority says it is also actively identifying individuals who are entitled to the qualifying benefit during the course of its work to provide other services.
Like Lancashire County Council, Blackpool Council says it is also awaiting the rules for how the cash it will be allocated via the next instalment of Household Support Fund can be used in relation to energy bills. Any Blackpool pensioners in need of help or advice regarding the winter fuel payment changes should visit the Blackpool Together section of the council’s website – www.blackpool.gov.uk/Together – or call 0808 175 3379 between 10am to 3pm, Monday to Friday.
They can also speak to someone in person by visiting either the Empowerment Charity, on Bispham Road – Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm – or the Volunteer Centre on Abingdon Street between 10am and 3pm, Monday to Friday.
Meanwhile, in Blackburn with Darwen, council leader Phil Riley said: “We are urging everyone who is entitled to pension credit to be able to claim it, to help them financially and to make sure they can still claim the winter fuel allowance. Please could friends and family of people over pension age also help to get involved to make their loved ones aware of the benefit and encourage them to apply.”
For more information on pension credit and how to apply, go to: gov.uk/pension-credit or blackburn.gov.uk/cost-living-support. Age UK Blackburn with Darwen can also be contacted for further advice and Information on: 01254 266620.
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT SAYS
During the Commons debate on Tuesday, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury James Murray said: “This is a difficult decision to have to take. By means-testing winter fuel payments, we know that we will be ending future payments to most pensioners while maintaining our steadfast commitment to protecting those in greatest need. But although they do not like to be reminded of it, Conservative members know exactly why we need to take this step.”
He later added: “Everyone on that side of the House might like to reflect on what the legacy of the last government truly was. It was one of irresponsible overspending, of uncosted commitment after uncosted commitment and of ministers running away from taking difficult decisions.
“As a direct consequence, when we came to power we were faced with a £22bn black hole in the public finances for this year alone.
HOW LANCASHIRE MPs VOTED
For or against blocking the reduction in eligibility for winter fuel allowance, i.e. those voting ‘against’ were in favour of the cut going ahead and those who voted ‘for’ wanted to halt the planned change.
Chris Webb (Blackpool South) – no vote recorded
Lorraine Beavers (Blackpool North and Fleetwood) – no vote recorded
Andrew Snowden (Fylde) – for
Mark Hendrick (Preston) – against
Paul Foster (South Ribble) – against
Sir Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley) – does not vote as he is Speaker of the Commons
Ashley Dalton (West Lancashire) – against
Maya Ellis (Ribble Valley) – against
Cat Smith (Lancaster and Wyre) – no vote recorded
Lizzi Collinge (Morecambe and Lunesdale) – against
Adnan Hussain (Blackburn) – for
Andy MacNae (Rossendale and Darwen) – against
Sarah Smith (Hyndburn) – no vote recorded
Oliiver Ryan (Burnley) – against