One of the government’s most controversial policies has been pushed back into the spotlight as snow, ice and sub-zero temperatures hit the UK for almost two straight weeks in January. The weather is turning milder, but there have been calls to rethink the government’s cold weather support for the elderly and vulnerable, including the means-tested winter fuel payment.
Have your say! Have you changed your mind about the means-tested Winter Fuel Payment since it was announced last summer? How have your older friends and family coped this winter? Comment below, and join in on the conversation.
One of the early controversies with the Labour government that was elected last year was their policy to means-test the winter fuel payments that previously went to all pensioners. To cut down on government spending in this area, it was decided that the payment would now only go to those on pension credit and some other benefits.
Campaigners have called on the Government to “urgently review” the threshold at which the payments can be made so older people do not die from the cold, reports the Express. Director of policy at Independent Age, Morgan Vine, said the charity was “extremely worried” about the welfare of older people who “cannot afford to turn their heating on” during the present cold weather.
He said: “The cold snap lays bare the huge mistake made by the UK Government when it tied the winter fuel payment to pension credit. Far too many older people on low incomes will fall through the cracks and could now be living in freezing cold homes, which can be damaging to your health, and in some cases, life threatening.
“We are urging the UK Government to recognise the desperate situation older people in financial hardship are facing and urgently review the threshold which qualifies people for the winter fuel payment, history cannot be allowed to repeat itself next winter.”
Director Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK, warned of a “disaster”, saying: “The Government’s decision to slash entitlement to winter fuel payment has been a disaster for many older people. Making it available only to pensioners who receive pension credit has left millions of the poorest and most vulnerable unprotected this winter.”
She said a “partial solution” would be to automatically give the payments to “older people receiving housing benefit, council tax support, personal independence allowance, attendance allowance and carers allowance”.
The Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said that the government is making up for the shortfall of axing the payment from many pensioners by committing to the pension “triple lock” which would increase by £460 next year. “That means pensioners under Labour will be better off because we are going to stabilise the economy after that lot lost control of it,” he said.
Have your say! Have you changed your mind about the means-tested Winter Fuel Payment since it was announced last summer? How have your older friends and family coped this winter? Comment below, and join in on the conversation.