By John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporter: The government’s plan to axe universal winter fuel payments will have “disastrous consequences” in Somerset, Liberal Democrat politicians across the county have warned.
Winter fuel payments of up to £300 had been due to be paid to all pensioners again this winter, but the new Labour government announced they were cutting the payments for the vast majority of pensioners after claiming to have found a £22bn black hole left in the country’s finances by the Conservatives. Only pensioners who receive pension credit or certain other benefits will still receive the payment — despite energy costs being set to rise.
Liberal Democrat politicians across Somerset have hit out at the move, as their party plans to bring a motion to attempt to block the cut in Parliament. Bath MP Wera Hobhouse called the government’s decision “a huge mistake.”
She said: “I have already heard from countless pensioners across Bath who are worried sick about losing this vital support and whether they will be able to afford their energy bills as the weather starts to get colder. Stripping support from many of the poorest pensioners in Bath just when energy bills are set to rise again is simply wrong.
“It could force vulnerable elderly people in our community to choose between eating and heating this winter.”
She warned that — according to House of Commons figures for 2023 — there were 15,000 pensioners in the city who did not receive pension credit and would therefore now lose their winter fuel allowance under the government’s plans unless they received other benefits. Meanwhile the leader of North Somerset Council, Mike Bell, has warned that the cut would hit more than 30,000 pensioners in that district.
He said: “These decisions will have disastrous consequences for some of our most vulnerable residents and will put extra strain on our under-pressure care and health services. Whilst we all understand the financial mess left behind by the Conservatives, Labour do need to think again about this.
“Last winter, pensioner households in North Somerset got up to £300 extra in cost of living support as well as £200 in winter fuel payments. This year 90% of local pensioner households will be worse off by £500, just as energy bills are due to rise by 10%.
He added: “While there is an argument for ending the universal winter fuel payments and means testing more, eligibility is being squeezed to too narrow a group. Those just above the benefit thresholds will be hardest hit and with the least flexibility to make ends meet.”
Glastonbury and Somerton MP Sarah Dyke warned that the cut would hit rural Somerset “harder” and put a “disproportionate burden” on its public services. She said: “It is well known that Somerset has a much older population than the national average, with a quarter of us now older than 65. […] This is compounded by the fact that rural areas like Glastonbury and Somerton rely on off-grid gas supplies to heat our homes and our houses tend to be less energy-efficient.”
She said: “The government has said that those with the broadest shoulders should bear the heavier burden, so it cannot be right that Somerset has to bear the brunt of these changes simply because we are a rural area with an older population.”
The 72 Liberal Democrat MPs in Parliament have backed a motion — known as a prayer — which is set to be tabled once Parliament returns next week to block the government’s changes and keep the current system of winter fuel payments. With a large Labour majority, the motion is unlikely to pass unless there is a major Labour rebellion.
Ms Hobhouse said: “My fellow Liberal Democrat colleagues and I will do everything we can to block these plans as soon as Parliament returns in order to deliver a fair deal for pensioners in Bath and across the country.”
Under the government’s plan, you will still be eligible for a winter fuel payment — except under certain circumstances — if you were born before 23 September 1958 and receive one of the following benefits: pension credit, universal credit, income-related employment and support allowance (ESA), income-based jobseeker’s allowance (JSA), and income support. Full details of whether you will be eligible can be seen here: https://www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment
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