Following the decision by the new Labour Government to remove Winter Fuel Payments from millions of pensioners, it is disappointing to see that no provision was made in the autumn budget to mitigate the impacts on the least well-off.
Pensioners on an income of just £218.15 per week are losing their Winter Fuel Payment this winter because they are not eligible for Pension Credit. That’s an annual income of just over £11,000 for a single pensioner, which is less than one third of the average national wage at £35k and is significantly below the Living Wage.
Here in East Cambs there are 16,658 pensioners affected by this change, with an estimated 641 that are potentially eligible for Pension Credit but not currently claiming.
I took a motion to our recent Full Council meeting to do everything we could to help people apply for Pension Credit and I am pleased to say it was unanimously supported. I proposed a similar motion to the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority Board but sadly it wasn’t supported there.
The District Council is carrying out a comprehensive awareness campaign and is working with partner organisations to identify and communicate with those pensioners that could be claiming Pension Credit which would also mean they would be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment.
Please do contact the Council to get information and support - even if you are not eligible for Pension Credit other help is also available this winter, so please ring 01353 665555, or call into the Council offices on Nutholt Lane in Ely, from Monday to Friday 10.00am to 4.00pm. Residents can also access further information on the Council’s Cost of Living pages on its website: www.eastcambs.gov.uk/cost-living/cost-living.
