Yahoo News Council leader writes to Chancellor as 28,000 OAPs to miss winter fuel allowance
A Staffordshire council leader has written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to raise concerns about Winter Fuel Allowance payments. The controversial national move towards means testing the payment means that it will no longer be given to those who do not receive Pension Credit - and more than 28,000 pensioners in Stafford Borough are expected to be affected.
A motion was presented at a recent full council meeting urging the authority to raise awareness of Pension Credit for older residents who may be eligible for it, as they would still be in line to claim Winter Fuel Allowance. It also called for the council to find ways to support some of the most vulnerable pensioners locally affected by this policy decision throughout the winter, especially those in rural areas who have some of the least energy efficient housing.
The motion was referred to the cabinet because it potentially involved financial decisions. At Thursday's cabinet meeting senior councillors agreed that it could be brought back to a future full council meeting for consideration.
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Councillor Jill Hood, cabinet member for communities, said at the meeting that council leader Aidan Godfrey had "written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to voice our concern and to ask that the Government does all it can to make sure those entitled to help during the winter months don’t miss out."
She added that the council was encouraging residents to find out if they are entitled to Pension Credit by providing information on emails from councillors and staff, sharing Government messages through social media channels and putting details on website pages to signpost to where residents can find out more on how to claim.
Councillor Hood said: "It is imperative that residents, families, local organisations and businesses help us to spread the message about how older people could find out if they are entitled to pension credits. Even if you are only entitled to £1, it means you can get other allowances such as Housing Benefit if you rent a property, a free TV licence if you are aged 75 or over, help with NHS dental treatment, glasses and hospital appointment costs.
"Anyone who is unsure if they qualify for the WFA can go to Pension Credit: Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) or contact the Department of Work and Pensions dedicated helpline on 0800 99 1234 between Monday and Friday from 8am to 6pm.
"We don’t want people to miss out on this allowance - so we encourage people to get in touch with the DWP to find out what they are entitled to. There are also local organisations, like Age Concern and the Citizens Advice Bureau, that can help you do this if you need support."
