A PETITION seeking to save the Winter Fuel Payment (WFP) for struggling pensioners has hit more than 130,000 signatures in a matter of days.
The Labour Government announced this week that from this winter, the benefit – worth between £100 and £300 - would become unavailable to pensioners unless they are on Pension Credit or other means-tested benefits.
It means about 10 million people will no longer have access to it because they are deemed too wealthy.
But Age UK – which launched the petition – believes as many as two million pensioners who find their energy bills a real stretch will be seriously hit by the cut.
This includes those on low incomes who just miss out on Pension Credit, those with high energy needs because of disability or illness, along with the 800,000 who don’t receive Pension Credit for which they are eligible.
It is not yet clear what will happen to the WFP in Scotland, which is due to be devolved this year, but Age UK fear it is likely the UK Government will no longer provide the money to cover the cost of what pensioners in the nation should receive.
The petition states: “Cutting the Winter Fuel Payment this winter, with virtually no notice and no compensatory measures to protect poor and vulnerable pensioners, is the wrong policy decision.
“Millions of struggling pensioners won’t receive up to £300 they rely on to pay their bills. We believe as many as two million pensioners who find paying their energy bills a real stretch will be seriously hit by this cut.
“The Government should halt their proposed change to the Winter Fuel Payment and think again.”
SNP leader in Westminster, Stephen Flynn, told BBC Breakfast on Wednesday that no decision has been made yet on whether the new devolved Pension Age Winter Heating Payment - which is due to replace Winter Fuel Payment this year - will follow the same eligibility changes.
People over State Pension age (66) resident in the UK for at least one day during the qualifying week in September (22-28, to be confirmed) who are receiving Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance will continue to receive Winter Fuel Payments.
Anyone who thinks they may be eligible for Pension Credit is urged to check their entitlement using this calculator.
