Good news for hundreds of Inverclyde pensioners after winter fuel payment pledge
NO pensioner in Inverclyde will receive a winter fuel payment less than those now to be provided to OAPs in England and Wales, according to the First Minister.
John Swinney made the announcement on Monday following a U-turn by the UK Government over the payments.
Labour's Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, said last year that the winter fuel payment would no longer be something every pensioner would be entitled to.
That prompted the SNP to step in and say it would provide a payment of at least £100 to all pensioner households in Scotland in mitigation.
But in a major policy change, Ms Reeves announced last week that everyone over the state pension age in England and Wales will receive a winter fuel payment of at least £200, as long as they have an income of not more than £35,000 a year – with the payment rising to £300 for those aged over 80.
John Swinney made the pledge during a speech in Glasgow on Monday. (Image: PA) That prompted calls from Labour politicians, including West Scotland regional MSP and Inverclyde representative Neil Bibby, for the Scottish Government to match the pledge.
In his speech in Glasgow on Monday, Mr Swinney said that no Scottish pensioner "will receive less than they would under the new UK scheme", without giving further details.
Plans to introduce a new universal benefit in Scotland from this September were put on hold after the Chancellor's announcement last July that winter fuel payments were to become means-tested, with only those receiving Pension Credit or certain other benefits remaining eligible.
The latest Tele news headlines:In November, councillors in Inverclyde approved plans to spend £600,000 on helping older people who were no longer eligible for the winter fuel payment following Ms Reeves' announcement last summer.
The council's move saw pensioners who are no longer eligible for the benefit receive £200 credit on their council tax account.
A report by council officials estimated that the move would help around 1,300 low-income households across Inverclyde.
The step taken in Inverclyde was only intended as a one-year plan while the authority awaited further news on the Scottish Government's plans for the winter of 2025-26.
The UK Government's U-turn on winter fuel payments has been followed by a pledge from John Swinney that the Scottish Government will keep pace with the financial support to be provided to older people in England and Wales. (Image: Newsquest) Adam Stachura, associate director of policy, communications and external affairs at Age Scotland, said: "We've been really concerned that for hundreds of thousands of Scottish pensioners on low and modest incomes, living in fuel poverty and not claiming or entitled to Pension Credit, that the £100 Pension Age Winter Heating Payment just wouldn't be enough. It is good news that the Scottish Government have now also recognised that.
"We've asked the First Minster to commit to using every penny of the new funding to boost the energy support payment for pensioners in Scotland, rather than covering what they have already budgeted for.
"The money is now there to not only match what pensioners in England and Wales, but offer even more to those on the lowest incomes, and help drive down the astronomically high levels of fuel poverty and financial insecurity faced by pensioners in Scotland.'
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