Council makes 175 offer to pensioners no longer eligible for Winter Fuel Payment

At our last full council meeting, this administration pledged to look to establish a Winter Fuel Payment to plug the gap left by the recent cut that would have seen nearly 5,000 residents lose out on much-needed support with their energy bills.

I am pleased to announce that we have been able to locate funds. Officers have clearly helped us and we are very grateful to them to provide each of the nearly 5,000 eligible pensioners with a 175 payment towards their bills this winter.

Following government changes that were announced in July, now only around 1.5 million people will be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment, compared to the 11.4 million people who would have received it.

The council is working on increasing the uptake of an estimated 4,500 residents who are eligible for the Pension Credit but aren't currently claiming.

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