In July the new Labour Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, announced that the Government would be restricting Winter Fuel Payments so this support will now only be available to pensioners in receipt of Pension Credit or other means tested benefits.
A petition started by Age UK has been signed by more than 450,000 people but GP-turned-MP Dr Luke Evans hopes those numbers can be increased to show the new Labour Government the strength of feeling about the decision.
Shortly after the announcement Dr Evans wrote to the Labour Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, and urged her to reconsider the policy change, citing the “cruel impact it will have on thousands of pensioners in Hinckley and Bosworth, and millions across the country.”
Since the policy was announced at the end of July, a clip from 2014 has emerged which shows Reeves – who was a Shadow Minister at the time – appearing to boast that Labour “are the Party who have said we will cut the Winter Fuel Allowance.” The revelation of the clip has led to accusations that the Labour Party planned to implement this policy for over a decade and weren’t honest with voters in the recent General Election.
Critics argue this flies in the face of the Government’s current reasoning for restricting the winter support being due to a “Black Hole” in the finances or, as Labour’s Leader of the Commons has alleged, “risked a run on the pound.” The restriction of the Winter Fuel Payments is estimated to save the Treasury £1.4bn, meanwhile trade unions have received a bumper £9 billion pay out.
Pension Credit is the UK’s most underclaimed benefit with Age UK, which has widely criticised the withdrawal of the Winter Fuel Payments as “disastrous” and “a social injustice”, reporting that there are over 1,000 pensioners in Hinckley and Bosworth who are entitled for the gateway benefit but have not yet claimed the additional support.
Local MP Dr Evans is urging pensioners worried about the changes to check their eligibility for Pension Credit.
To be eligible a single pensioner must be receiving less than £218.15 a week or under £332.95 for couples. This amount could be higher if you're disabled, a carer or have certain housing costs.
Pension Credit can be claimed online, over the phone or by completing a form. Information is available via www.gov.uk/pension-credit or by calling the Freephone Pension Credit claim line on 0800 99 1234.
When applying please ensure that you have access to your National Insurance number, bank details and information about your savings.
Dr Luke Evans, Member of Parliament for Hinckley and Bosworth, said “This is a short sighted and cruel attack on those who can’t increase their income. I will continue to speak out against Labour’s choice to make pensioners bear the brunt of the new Government’s capitulation to Union demands.
“Our pensioners deserve better than this, so far almost half a million people have signed the petition and I hope others do too.
“Most importantly, I urge every pensioner across Hinckley and Bosworth who thinks they may be entitled to Pension Credit to check whether they are eligible.
“Pension Credit is the most underclaimed benefit in the UK and I will be writing to households across our community to ensure as many pensioners as possible receive the support they are entitled to.”
To sign the petition visit: https://campaigns.ageuk.org.uk/page/154268/petition/1
