Council calls for government rethink on Winter Fuel Payment

A motion was passed at this week’s Full Council meeting at Wealden District Council which saw councillors agree to ask the government to consider making changes to the new regulation surrounding the Winter Fuel Payment.

The new regulation means that households in England and Wales will no longer be entitled to the Winter Fuel Payment unless they receive Pension Credit or certain other means-tested benefits – as announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

The motion was originally proposed by Independent councillor Andrew Wilson and seconded by Conservative councillor Ann Newton. An amendment by the Alliance for Wealden – proposed by deputy leader Councillor James Partridge, Liberal Democrat, and seconded by Green Party councillor Greg Collins – was voted through and following that, a further amendment by Independent councillor Ben Reed was also approved, seconded by Ann Newton.

The amended motion asked the leader of Wealden council to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer urging a review of the proposed level of means-test for the Winter Fuel Payment and further, to ask the government to ensure that those most vulnerable pensioners, particularly those who do not currently claim Pension Credit but would be entitled to do so, are better protected from fuel poverty; to place a priority on reintroducing funding for free home insulation schemes because retrofitting such homes is the only satisfactory long-term solution to the problem of fuel poverty; and to insist that the Winter Fuel Payment is paid to all basic tax rate paying pensioners and withdrawn from higher tax rate paying pensioners.

The motion also notes the effort the council has already given to vulnerable pensioners through the Council Tax Reduction scheme, which has helped 3,019 pensioners; Housing Benefit – 69% of the council’s housing benefit caseload is pensioners; Housing Support Fund – at least 2,925 pensioners have received help so far; the new £500m Housing Support Fund scheme designed to assist those ineligible for Winter Fuel Payments; and to recognise the work undertaken by officers to date to encourage local efforts to promote Pension Credit uptake through council services and communications.

A letter will also be sent to members of Parliament – Nusrat Ghani for Sussex Weald, Mims Davies for East Grinstead and Uckfield, Dr Kieren Mullan for Bexhill and Battle and James MacCleary for Lewes – urging them to ask the government to ensure that vulnerable pensioners, particularly those who do not claim Pension Credit, are protected from fuel poverty as well as to press the government to reverse the decision as it may impact a considerable amount of pensioners in Wealden.

As part of the motion, council leader Councillor Rachel Millward will sign the Save the Winter Fuel Payment for Struggling Pensioners petition run by Age UK.

Councillor Andrew Wilson said, “Pensioners in Wealden could lose their winter fuel allowance, pushing many into financial hardship and disproportionately impacting the health and well-being of our poorest older residents, many of whom are on fixed incomes. While some pensioners may not rely on this support, thousands just above the Pension Credit threshold will now lose this essential lifeline.”

Councillor James Partridge said, “As a council we should do whatever is within our power to help, by increasing the efforts we are already making to identify, enable and support the most vulnerable and poorest state pensioners.”

Councillor Greg Collins said, “This amendment seeks to build on the excellent track record built up over many years of this council lobbying central government. We are asking for the level of the means-test to be reviewed; we believe the ceiling is too low and needs to be raised.

Councillor Ben Reed said, “I support us writing to the government to search for better solutions for our pensioners throughout Wealden.”

Councillor Ann Newton said, “I was pleased to be able to second Councillor Reed’s amendment and that we got over the petty politicking on the day to reach a compromise on the immediate issue of the Winter Fuel Allowance and the hardship it’s removal will cause for Wealden’s pensioners.  Whilst broader discussion on home insulation is important, this motion was about addressing an urgent and specific injustice”.