Up to 117,224 pensioners in receipt of winter fuel payments may lose the annual universal payment now that means-testing has been introduced for the first time by the new Labour government.
The announcement coincides with an increase in the energy price cap of 10% which means pensioners could face soaring fuel bills, plunging as many as two million people into fuel poverty across the country.
The City Council will discuss the emerging crisis on the 5th of November after a debate was tabled by Birmingham Local Conservatives. They want the Council to write to the Chancellor asking her to reconsider the decision.
The winter fuel payments ranged from £100 to £300 and were paid to everyone over the state pension age. From this year, pensioners will only be eligible if they claim pension credits, universal credit and a range of other benefits.
Just six in ten pensioners eligible for pension credits claim them leaving around £2.1 bn unclaimed. This means a significant number could also now miss out on winter fuel payments. To combat this, Birmingham Local Conservatives will call on the Council to run an awareness campaign to ensure as many people as possible collect the payment.
The motion will be moved by Cllr Deirdre Alden (Con, Edgbaston) Shadow Cabinet Member for Transformation, Governance and HR.
Speaking ahead of the meeting she said:
During the general election campaign, Labour promised to reduce energy bills. It is absolutely disgusting that they have gone back on that promise and are cutting the Winter Fuel Allowance for vulnerable pensioners right as the cold weather hits and the energy price cap is lifted by 10%. These cuts to the Winter Fuel Allowance are a direct attack on our pensioners — it's cruel and unnecessary. The Council must stand by our older residents and tell the Labour Government to rethink this policy.”
The motion will be seconded by Cllr Alex Yip (Con, Sutton Wylde Green) Shadow Cabinet Member for Social Justice, Community, Safety and Equalities. Commenting ahead of the meeting he said:
Let us be clear, this is a political choice by Labour. They have chosen to attack pensioners on both a national level by cutting the Winter Fuel Allowance, and on a local level by cutting libraries which serve as warm spaces for those struggling to heat their homes. Labour's own assessment previously estimated that cutting the Winter Fuel Allowance would cost 4000 lives. Even Unite the Union has launched a legal challenge over the lawfulness of this cruel decision. The Council needs to make sure that pensioners are aware of pension credit and that Birmingham's pensioners are claiming the money they are entitled to.
Birmingham Local Conservative Councillors are also backing calls from Age UK to reconsider the decision and are encouraging residents to sign the petition.
