West Lothian pensioners helped to get vital winter fuel payments
Pensioners in West Lothian have been given help to ensure they qualify for the stricter winter fuel payments. More than 100 OAPs in the county were able to claim more than £28,000 in winter fuel payments following targeted advice from the council's Anti-Poverty Service. Councillor George Paul, chair of the Whitburn and Blackburn Local Area Committee said a report on the service's work in the last year was a 'horrendous read'- but he welcomed the work that was being done. One of the first decisions of the newly elected Labour Government was to scrap the universal £300 winter field payment for pensioners. This winter only those who qualified for pension credit would be eligible for cash help with their heating bills. The Anti-Poverty service used Inbest, an agency which helps individuals and councils understand benefits entitlements and can be used to navigate the application process for benefits. It's a tool to maximize potential benefits. A spokesperson for the council service told the committee: 'The service worked in partnership with an external agency, Inbest, who were able to help identify customers entitled to Pension Credit but not claiming. 'The Department for Work and Pensions approved the reuse of the data we held for this campaign as we were able to anonymise customer details. The benefits team within the Anti-poverty service worked with Inbest and were able to identify 432 households who were in receipt of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction and based on their income should also be claiming Pension Credit but were not.' The spokesperson added: 'The Advice Shop's Pensioner Income Maximisation Team made contact via telephone or letter to carry out Income Maximisation Checks and assist customers to make claims to any benefits identified. 'The engagement rate for this campaign was 55% this included those that were supported, not entitled and those that were not interested in pursuing further. 'From this targeted approach 136 customers have been supported to claim £544,299 in extra benefit outcome throughout West Lothian with 129 claims for the Winter Fuel Payment totalling £28,700 which otherwise may not have been claimed.' The update of the year's work also showed the wider work of the Anti-Poverty Service and Advice shops in Whitburn and Blackburn. In total, 15% of Advice Shop customers in West Lothian came from the Whitburn and Blackburn area. Successful outcomes secured for these customers included: Total financial gains of £2,821,608 million by maximising income from social security benefits and energy efficiency savings of £113,547 through access to financial support and advice Support to deal with £1,123,825 of problem debt resulted in reduction in debt repayments of £512,188 The service also issued 686 emergency food vouchers and 579 fuel vouchers for households at risk of disconnection Councillor Paul said: 'Your report is welcome but when you're reading it is also kind of frightening; the amount of poverty that's in West Lothian. 'It's horrendous reading but it's welcome that something is being done. God knows what would happen to people otherwise.' Just over 2,000 of the 14,000 plus enquiries to the service came from the Whitburn ward last year. SNP Councillor Mary Dickson agreed with Councillor Paul. She said: 'When I read this report it's just dismal. It's sad to see how many people in West Lothian actually need help like this. "And it's from all areas, from cancer patients, children, clothing grants. It's really sad. Like George, I'm pleased that someone is there looking out for the people.' Don't miss the latest news from the West Lothian Courier. Sign up to our free newsletter here .
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North Wales Live
a day ago
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Many State pensioners were controversially stripped of their £300 Winter Fuel Payment over the winter. It came after the Government declared the benefit would be means tested but the issue has been highly contentious. It means the vast majority of State pensioners will no longer receive a £300 payment unless they claim a qualifying benefit. Since then Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced a partial reversal on the benefit, pledging to reassess the eligibility threshold to reinstate the payment to more pensioners. How this will be implemented or what the criteria might be have not yet been disclosed. This week, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves announced that more pensioners will receive the winter fuel allowance this year, although it still won't be universal, reports the Express. Officials haven't yet said how many more pensioners will be eligible. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: "We have listened to the concerns that people had about the level of the means test and so we will be making changes to that. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now "They will be in place so that pensioners are paid this coming winter. People should be in no doubt that the means test will increase and more people will get winter fuel payment this winter." 'Exact amount will vary depending on your birth year' However, many aren't aware that if you do qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment this year, the exact amount you receive will vary depending on your birth year and possibly other circumstances as well. The Government previously paid the Winter Fuel Payment automatically to all state pensioners, but until any changes are announced, the current rule is that you must be claiming a qualifying benefit such as Pension Credit. Those who are of state pension age but under 80, meaning they were born on or before September 22, 1958, and who qualify will receive a £200 payment. But those aged over 80 - born on September 23, 1944, or earlier - will receive £300. The amount you receive is determined by your age and circumstances during the "qualifying week" of September 16 to 22, 2024. If you missed this period, you can backdate Pension Credit claims until December, so it's still accessible now. So if you're over 80 and eligible, your Winter Fuel Payment will rise from £200 to £300. Most qualifying individuals will receive a letter detailing the amount they'll receive and the bank account in which it will be paid to, this is typically the same as the one used for your Pension Credit or other benefits. An Age UK spokesman said: "If you or your partner claims Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance, the payment should go to the main claimant of the benefit automatically. "You should receive your payment between mid-November and Christmas. Call the Winter Fuel Payment helpline on 0800 731 0160 if you have any enquiries or you don't receive your payment."
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State pensioners born in certain years given immediate Winter Fuel Payment increase
State pensioners born in certain years given immediate Winter Fuel Payment increase The payment is worth £100 more depending on when you were born Not everyone is aware of the price differences (Image: Getty ) Millions of state pensioners were controversially stripped of their £300 Winter Fuel Payment over the winter, since the government declared the benefit would be means tested the issue has been highly contentious. It means the vast majority of state pensioners will no longer receive a £300 payment unless they claim a qualifying benefit. Subsequently, Sir Keir Starmer announced a partial reversal on the benefit, pledging to reassess the eligibility threshold to reinstate the payment to more pensioners. The specifics of how this will be implemented or what the criteria might be have not yet been disclosed. This week, Rachel Reeves announced that more pensioners will receive the winter fuel allowance this year, although it still won't be universal. Officials haven't yet said how many more pensioners will be eligible. Rachel Reeves said: "We have listened to the concerns that people had about the level of the means test and so we will be making changes to that. They will be in place so that pensioners are paid this coming winter. "People should be in no doubt that the means test will increase and more people will get winter fuel payment this winter." However, many aren't aware that if you do qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment this year, the exact amount you receive will vary depending on your birth year and possibly other circumstances as well. Article continues below The Winter Fuel Payment was previously automatically given to all state pensioners, but until any changes are announced, the current rule is that you must be claiming a qualifying benefit such as Pension Credit. Those who are of state pension age but under 80, meaning they were born on or before September 22, 1958, and who qualify will receive a £200 payment. However, those aged over 80 - born on September 23, 1944, or earlier - will receive £300, reports the Express. For money-saving tips, sign up to our Money newsletter here . The amount you receive is determined by your age and circumstances during the 'qualifying week' of September 16 to 22, 2024. If you missed this period, you can backdate Pension Credit claims until December, so it's still accessible now. Therefore, if you're over 80 and eligible, your Winter Fuel Payment will rise from £200 to £300. Most qualifying individuals will receive a letter detailing the amount they'll receive and the bank account in which it will be paid to, this is typically the same as the one used for your Pension Credit or other benefits. Article continues below Age UK said: "If you or your partner claims Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance, the payment should go to the main claimant of the benefit automatically. "You should receive your payment between mid-November and Christmas. Call the Winter Fuel Payment helpline on 0800 731 0160 if you have any enquiries or you don't receive your payment."
