State pensioners struggling without Winter Fuel Payment can get new £300 boost
State pensioners who are struggling without a Winter Fuel Payment can get a replacement sum of £200-£300. The move comes as Labour has restricted the fuel payment to those on Pension Credit or some other means-tested benefits.
The change has meant 10 million older people no longer qualify for the annual Government support. Although the DWP, along with charities and other organisations, is encouraging people to apply for Pension Credit so they get their allowance reinstated, many will be missing out this winter.
Labour is urging local authorities to ensure some of their Household Support Fund allocation from the DWP is set aside to help older people who are now excluded from the fuel payment. Solihull Council says it is using some of its cash to support pensioners in the borough.
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The council says pensioners can receive a £200-£300 fuel payment per household if they are on a low income and are not eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment. This is expected to help those who are struggling but don't qualify for Pension Credit to regain the fuel allowance.
Pensioners could also receive fuel debt relief of up to £500 per household if they are unable to pay their electricity/gas/water bill and have gone into arrears. They can also be provided with blankets, quilts and warm clothing, plus emergency portable heaters and essential white goods such as ovens and fridges.
These initiatives are all being handled by the council's partner organisation Age UK Solihull. For support, you should contact Age UK Solihull on 0121 709 7590 or send an email to admin@solihullcommunityhub.org.uk
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has admitted that his party's restrictions to the Winter Fuel Payment "might be unpopular" following warnings from the UK Health Security Agency that said older people may be particularly at risk in the current cold spell.
Mr Streeting had told people to "turn the heating on" after snow fell at the start of the month. Asked whether his advice was tactful, Mr Streeting said: "It is part of the advice that the NHS is giving to people during this cold snap to make sure that people are doing whatever they can to keep warm, to make sure, as we’ve been doing in the run-up to this winter, that people get vaccinated and so on.
"But just coming back to this issue of winter fuel allowance, the Chancellor (Rachel Reeves) did protect winter fuel allowance for the poorest pensioners. There is the Warm Home Discount people should see if they’re eligible for. So in terms of protecting the poorest pensioners this winter, the Government is taking action. Of course, that doesn’t mean that getting rid of the winter fuel allowance for others has been a popular decision."
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