A Newcastle older people’s charity has welcomed the reinstatement of winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners – but says Labour should never have imposed its hugely unpopular cut.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed a U-turn on Monday which will mean that nine million pensioners across England and Wales will receive the payment worth up to £300 this winter.
It comes after a severe public backlash to the Treasury’s 2024 decision to limit the benefit only to those who claimed pension credit.
Benwell-based charity Search told the Local Democracy Reporting Service on Tuesday that it was “very grateful” to see the Government reversing its stance, with the payments now set to be issued automatically to all pensioners with an income of under £35,000 a year, but that “it should never have had to come to this”.
Energy adviser Meg Henderson said: “Up until yesterday there was a lot of dismay and alarm about how they [her clients] were going to get through the winter. The fluctuation of the energy crisis on top of losing the winter fuel payments, as well as the cost of living generally, meant it really was eat or heat.
“I do a lot of home visits and I know the impact it had on people – on their health and mental health, especially when their families are struggling themselves and are not able to help.
“I am hoping this will make a difference, but it should never have been taken away in the beginning. Those are just my thoughts, but I think it is echoed around the whole country. It should never have had to come to this.”
Search reported a “significant increase” in people seeking support last winter with their energy bills and to claim benefits they did not realise they were entitled to, following the initial cut that saw the national number of pensioners receiving winter fuel payment reduced from 11.4 million to 1.5 million.
Ms Henderson added that the restoration of the payments could have a massive impact on many of her clients – not only to keep them warm in the cold months, but to allow them to be more active and sociable.
She said: “It is bigger than just having an extra £200 or £300 to pay your bill. If people can warm themselves better and cook a bit more, it can make them more mentally geared up to go out and engage – to see their family or friends, to take part in some activities.”
Outrage over the winter fuel cut was seen as a key factor behind a major cut in Labour support at the recent local elections, where the party suffered major losses in areas including Northumberland and Durham.
Northumberland Conservative county Cllr Gordon Stewart likened Monday’s U-turn to “a professional football team losing 10-0 but pulling back a late goal, and then doing a lap of honour”.
Joining calls for the Chancellor to also reverse planned cuts to disability benefits, he added: “The decision to take away a long-running benefit expected by some of the most vulnerable in our society all of a sudden caused real stress during the cold winter months to so many people. The chancellor and the MPs who voted for the withdrawal of the allowance should apologise not celebrate. Now they should be reviewing their withdrawal of benefits to many disabled people.”
Ms Reeves insisted on Monday that the winter fuel cut “was a tough decision, but the right decision because of the inheritance we had been left by the previous government”.
She added; “It is also right that we continue to means-test this payment so that it is targeted and fair, rather than restoring eligibility to everyone including the wealthiest.
“But we have now acted to expand the eligibility of the Winter Fuel Payment so no pensioner on a lower income will miss out. This will mean over three quarters of pensioners receiving the payment in England and Wales later this winter.”
