Support offered after winter fuel payment concerns
29 Aug 2024 ARCHIVED (over 3 months old) - view latest news
Find out about support available around Winter Fuel payments and Pension Credit
The Leader of Northumberland County Council has expressed alarm after it was established that potentially over 70,000 pensioners in the county could no longer be eligible for the winter fuel allowance in 2024.
But Councillor Glen Sanderson has pledged that the Council will continue its pro-active approach to support its older residents after it took immediate action to link in with a range of partners to highlight the help available.
Last month the Government confirmed that from this autumn, those not on pension credit or other means-tested benefits will no longer get the annual payments, worth between £100 and £300.
Across the country, around 10 million pensioners in England and Wales are expected to lose their winter fuel payments.
Councillor Sanderson, said: “These figures are alarming and I’m extremely worried for the tens of thousands of pensioners throughout Northumberland who may suffer in the months ahead.
“Our own analysis has revealed an estimated 70,000+ older residents could be disadvantaged for saving up over their working lives towards their retirement.
“If the price of fuel increases this winter as some predict then the implications are very worrying, but we as a Council, along with our partners, are doing all we can to help.
“We’re being pro-active – we knew we had to take action immediately and I’d like to thank all the staff who have worked so hard already to find out who may be eligible for pension credit and therefore winter fuel – and getting in touch with them direct.
“Applications are being supported by both Citizens Advice (CAB) and Age UK, both of which are able provide wider support for warm homes and energy efficiency, as well as more holistic financial wellbeing support.”
For residents on low incomes, who are ineligible for Winter Fuel payments, the Council is working on a number of measures to directly support these households, including access to the Gas Safe scheme - such as a boiler service, as well as links to both CAB and Age UK for more information and support.
Cllr Sanderson added: “Our network of warm spaces covers the whole county and is increasingly joined up, ready to open doors for residents over the colder months. All warm spaces will be fully equipped with a pack containing consistent pension credit, winter fuel, and keeping warm information to share with all residents.
“These are very worrying times for many of our most vulnerable, but we remain committed to doing everything we can to support all our residents both now and in the future.”
Find out about support available around Winter Fuel payments and Pension Credit