COUNCILLORS in East Ayrshire have overwhelmingly backed a call for the Labour Government to halt its plans to scrap winter fuel payments to pensioners.
SNP councillor Neal Ingram tabled the motion, which stated: “We call on the Westminster Government to halt the changes to the winter fuel payment at a UK level until an impact assessment can be done and the eligibility for pensions credits can be reviewed.
“The Westminster Government must ensure that no pensioner is forced into fuel poverty due to the winter fuel payment being linked to pensions credit eligibility.”
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Cllr Ingram told his colleagues: “In 2017 the Labour party, in opposition, argued against the then Conservative government and their plans to introduce means testing and to link eligibility to pension credit.
“The research the Labour party used to argue their case stated that half of all the almost 10,000 decrease in the so-called excess winter deaths between 2000 and 2012 was due to the introduction of the winter fuel allowance.
“They stated that means testing the winter fuel allowance for pensioners could contribute almost 4,000 extra deaths over the winter months.
“Given their previous position it is surprising and equally disappointing that one of the first policies Labour introduced is the one they fought so hard against when in opposition.
“It is also concerning that, while it is clear that the link between the decrease in excess deaths and the winter fuel payment was known, the government failed to undertake an impact assessment before moving to adopt this policy.”
Cllr Ingram highlighted pensioners who would be most affected by the changes as those who are ‘entitled to but do not claim pension credit, those that fall outside or just fall outside the eligibility for pension credit and who rely on the winter fuel payment to make ends meet, and those who may have income that is a little higher but required to keep their homes warm due to health concerns or to energy inefficient homes’.
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He added: “Many pensioners that have incomes just over the cut-off to qualify are still struggling financially. According to estimates there are an additional one million pensioners across the UK whose weekly incomes are less than £50 above the poverty line.
“Changes to winter fuel payment mean they lose a vital support which give them confidence to turn on the heating at a time of inflated energy costs.
“This will lead to households choosing between heating and eating or disconnecting entirely to make ends meet.
“In 2023/24 just over 17, 500 households received the winter fuel payment. In the same year just under 3,500 households received pension credit a difference of 14,000 households meaning 80 per cent will no longer receive that extra payment.
“By my calculations that is between £2.8 million and £4.2 million locally – a huge hit to East Ayrshire and worryingly potential implications to the health of most vulnerable pensioners.
“Unless the cliff edge of eligibility is addressed it will continue to hit the most vulnerable and leave many without the support they need."
Conservative group leader John McFadzean backed the motion.
He said: “I think this is a very cruel and dangerous policy in playing Russian roulette with people’s lives and if there was ever going to be any means testing for the winter fuel payment the bar should be set miles and miles up. to a point where it’s only people who really don’t need it and have got plenty of money."
Labour councillor Peter Mabon tabled an amendment on behalf of the Labour group highlighting the areas of the budget they say will improve the outlook for older people.
He also called on both the UK and Scottish Governments to ‘revisit’ their position on winter fuel payments.
Cllr Ingram responded: “I suppose I did expect the Labour group would bring an amendment, but I wasn’t expecting it to be a self congratulatory one on the budget, given the fact that this is dealing with a very specific issue in regard to winter fuel payment.
“This isn’t this isn’t about anything else in the budget. I appreciate that there is an increase to pensions coming down the line, but this is taking away with one hand and giving with the other.
“For many it will just cancel it out.”
The council voted 17 to six in favour of the motion.
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