By Harry Mottram: It’s been the most contentious issue for the new labour Government – to remove the Winter Fuel Allowance for all pensioners – but only to allow those claiming pension credit and/or are means tested to have the £200 or £300 towards their heating bills paid. The controversial measure is part of the plans of Kier Starmer’s administration to tackle what they call a ‘£22bn black hole’ in the nation’s finances left by Rishi Sunak’s Conservative Government. It’s caused a split in Labour ranks and has been seized upon by the Conservative opposition and the Liberal Democrats as being unfair.
In Bath, Wera Hobhouse, the Liberal Democrat MP for the city said: “I was glad to vote against the government’s cruel and unnecessary cut to winter fuel payments for pensioners. One in five pensioners are considering cutting back on eating to pay for their heating bills. This is disgraceful. While I recognise the dire state the Conservatives left public finances in, vulnerable members of our society should not have to bear the brunt of their mismanagement. Today, I’m standing up for the thousands of pensioners in Bath who should not have to face another winter struggling to make ends meet.”
Apart from trying to balance the nation’s finances the argument in favour of the cuts is that many pensioners don’t need the money and it should only go to those most in need. The minster for works and pensioners Emma Reynolds (pictured) said: “In protecting the poorest pensioners on the lowest incomes and with the greatest need, it is the right decision given the tough choices that we face. Just to be very, very clear, I have spoken to a number of (MPs) present about the Government’s decision and there actually is fairly widespread agreement that this benefit should not be universal. There are plenty of very wealthy pensioners who are getting transfers of £200, or £300 if they’re over 80, into their bank account and who don’t need it, so it’s right that we target this support on the poorest pensioners.”
This argument wasn’t universally accepted by Labour MPs with some feeling there were other ways to make savings such as taxing the most wealthy in society. One argument however questions why only pensioners should receive the money when there are pensioners, working people and families whose income is just above the means tested figure of around £13,000 a year. whatever the arguments the vote in parliament was conclusive with 228 MPs voting against the cuts and 348 MPs voting in favour – and they were all Labour MPs while those voting against were from all the other political parties.
The Liberal Democrats commissioned a poll on the subject which showed that three in four pensioners expect to be affected by the Government’s cut to winter fuel allowance payments with just over half saying they would heat their home less. The party said in a statement on behalf of Wera Hobhouse: “Locally, the analysis shows an estimated 15,035 pensioners in Bath are at risk of losing the £300 payment, which helps with heating bills in the cold winter months.”
The man who is currently favourite to become the next leader of the Conservative party Robert Jenrick MP said: “Starmer’s decision to scrap winter fuel payments is one of the most dishonest acts in modern British politics.”
First introduced in 1997, the Winter Fuel Payment amounts have varied, but in most years the amount has been £200 for households where the oldest person is under 80, and £300 for households with someone aged 80 or over. In some years, extra amounts have been paid on top of the standard payments. Scotland and Northern Ireland Governments are set to follow Westminster’s lead.
Most people do not need to make a claim for a Winter Fuel Payment. You are usually paid automatically if you are getting Pension Credit, Income Support, income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit and Universal Credit. You will be paid automatically if you meet the new benefit eligibility criteria, got a payment last winter and your circumstances have not changed.
You might need to claim:
- if you didn’t get the Winter Fuel Payment last year
- if you or your partner gets Universal Credit
- if you live abroad even if you do get one of these benefits
For the winter of 2024/2025, claims must be sent and arrive by 31 March 2025. You can claim Winter Fuel Payment by:
- post – from 30 September 2024
- phone – from 28 October 2024
If you get Universal Credit, you should claim through your journal. You will receive a message explaining how to claim.
Claim over the phone
Telephone: 0800 731 0160
Textphone: Call Relay UK on 18001 then 0800 731 0160
Claim by post
Fill in a Winter Fuel Payment claim form for UK residents and sent it to the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.
Bath Voice Monthly Newspaper is distributed free to thousands of homes and some supermarkets – distributed from the first of the month. Harry Mottram is the News Editor
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Harry Mottram is a freelance journalist. Follow him on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, Telegram, TikTok and Email:harryfmottram@gmail.com
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