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Thousands of pensioners across Preston are being urged to check if they should be receiving pension credit.
Preston City Council is urging people to make an application after the cutback to the winter fuel allowance was confirmed this week.
MPs voted through the proposal to take away the allowance for every pensioner, worth up to £300-a-year, in favour of it becoming a means-tested benefit.
This means 17,123 pensioners in the city are not set to receive the payment towards energy bills from this winter.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has instead said the benefit will only be given to those receiving pension credit or other means-tested benefits such as disability allowance. The cutback comes as energy prices are expected to rise by around 10 per cent over the winter with the latest energy price cap lift.
Both Preston MP Mark Hendrick and Ribble Valley MP Maya Ellis – who has swathes of the north of Preston in her constituency – voted with the government to take away the winter fuel payment. South Ribble MP Paul Foster also voted for the winter fuel payment change.
Preston MP Mark Hendrick told Blog Preston: “We know there’s a challenge when it comes to the finances of the country and not just myself but other colleagues we’ve had pensioners who are well-off saying why do I get this payment?
“However, I think we need to look at using a taper method for it. Because there will be people who aren’t eligible for pension credit but who are close to the threshold and they will lose out. A taper method would mean people still get something, even if it is not the full amount.
“We also need to look at pension credit and the application process. A lot of people don’t bother applying because it’s such a lengthy process or there’s a pride about not wanting to receive any help.
“But there’s people out there who need the money and it’s important that as a government we are getting that message out.”
Paul Foster took to social media to defend his decision on the winter fuel payments vote – and pointed to Labour’s commitment to keeping the triple-lock payment uplift for pensioners. Mr Hendrick also reinforced the party’s commitment to ensuring pensioners received this annual income boost.
Blog Preston previously reported criticism from the Preston Conservatives leader councillor Stephen Thompson over the cutback to the winter fuel payment. He said ‘more pensioners will need their hot water bottles this winter’.
Preston Liberal Democrat leader councillor John Potter, who are the opposition party in the city, said: “Obviously we welcome the council’s efforts to encourage pensioners to apply to see if they are eligible for Pension Credit. Regardless of what the Government is doing this is a sensible thing to do.
“However it does highlight again the negative effects of the Labour Party’s decision to recklessly cut the Winter Fuel Payments from 17,000 people in Preston.
“Labour wants to appear economically tough but hurting some of the most vulnerable people in the process while ignoring charities, opposition parties and common sense does them no favours.
“71% of pensioners with a disability and 83% of the over 80s will lose the benefit.
“Preston Labour now has a choice, do they act like obedient nodding dogs to their Westminster masters, or do they join Liberal Democrats in calling out this irresponsible Winter Fuel Payment cut.”
Preston City Council is one of many local authorities to have now launched a push to encourage people to fill in the application for pension credit.
Cabinet member for health and wellbeing, councillor Zafar Coupland, said: “It is very important for pensioners to apply for Pension Credit.
“If eligible, it will give them extra money to help with living costs in these very difficult times.”
What boost could pension credit give?
The pension credit gives people of state pension age a top-up on their income to help with their living costs.
For example, if an applicant is single their weekly income is topped up to £218.15 and if they are a couple it can top it up to £332.95-a-week. This can be higher for people with disabilities or caring responsibilities.
The average amount a pensioner receives through pension credit is £3,500.
Applying for pension credit does not affect other benefits.
How to apply
Applications can be done online through the government website or by calling the pension credit claim line on 0800991234.
The deadline for applications is Saturday 21 December 2024.
The city council is offering assistance in completing the form, a local advisor can be contacted on 01772906363.
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