Winter fuel U-turn should have come a long time ago, Reeves told
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said on Monday that nine million pensioners will be in receipt of the payment this year after a cut was announced in the first weeks of the Labour Government last summer.
The initial decision was met with heavy backlash and forced the Scottish Government to delay the implementation of its own devolved benefit.
John Swinney's administration later announced a similar payment for pensioners which would be tapered and see those on the highest incomes receiving £100, compared to £305.10 for those on the least.
Monday's announcement will result in cash being sent to the devolved administration at Holyrood, and Scottish Labour has urged the Government to increase its payments.
But Scotland's Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said the decision was 'a betrayal' of pensioners.
'I welcome any extension of eligibility by the UK Government, but this is a U-turn the Chancellor should have made a long time ago,' she said.
'But there is still no detail about how the Chancellor intends to go about that. Unfortunately, it still sounds as if many pensioners will miss out.'
Ms Somerville added that the Scottish Government had not been consulted on the decision and urged UK ministers to 'ensure the Scottish Government is fully appraised of the proposed changes as soon as possible'.
'The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government wrote to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury last week to urge the UK Government to share its plans with us as quickly as possible, so that we can understand any implications for our own programmes and, crucially, our budget,' she said.
Scottish Labour MSP Paul O'Kane said: 'The winter fuel payment is a devolved payment in Scotland and Scottish Labour has long been clear that we want to see it reinstated for the majority of pensioners up here – but despite their loud spin, the SNP voted against our attempts to do so.
'The SNP must not go ahead with plans that would rob poorer pensioners in order to fund payments for millionaires.
'The SNP must re-examine their own proposals in light of this game-changing announcement, ensure payments reach those most in need, and give a cast-iron guarantee that no struggling Scottish pensioners will be left out of pocket under their plans.'
The Scottish Government's plans were initially to provide a universal payment to pensioners, but the proposals were scuppered by the Chancellor's announcement of the cut last summer, forcing ministers to create a different system for this winter.
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BBC News
24 minutes ago
- BBC News
'It will make a lot of difference': Reactions to winter fuel payment U-turn
More than three-quarters of pensioners will receive the winter fuel payment this year after a major policy decision from Chancellor Rachel Reeves means nine million pensioners in England and Wales with an annual income of £35,000 or less will now be have spoken to us or contacted the BBC through Your Voice, Your BBC News about how the change of plan will affect them. 'Payment was taken away without warning' Bob Pritchard, 78, from Bath, told the BBC he earns £19,500 a year and believes he will now have his allowance reinstated."It will make a lot of difference. I've got various health issues and have to travel to hospital by taxi. I can't really afford to do it. The winter fuel payment was more or less taken away without warning," he said,Despite being happy about the government's U-turn, Bob believes he should be compensated for how he struggled when his winter fuel payment was taken away last year."The least they could do is offer some small compensation for all the grief and heartache that the initial decision to stop winter fuel payments has caused," he said. 'I give my winter fuel payment to charity' Alice George, 71, from Watford says she is "appalled" by Reeves' decision and gives her own winter fuel payment to charity."I know people who put the money towards a holiday," she said."I constantly meet pensioners who live very comfortably. I go to the cinema and the theatre regularly and they are packed with my ilk, most of whom don't need this money."Alice thinks its unfair that some young people earning less than £30,000 are expected to pay what she calls "extortionate rent and travel expenses".She thinks the winter fuel payment money should be put towards the NHS or tackling the housing crisis. 'I'm more than happy not to receive the payment' Ian Bryant, from Nailsworth in Gloucestershire, is pleased with the government's earns more than £35,000 as a pensioner so will not be receiving the payment himself but is happy for the others who will."It wasn't ideal when the payment was removed last year, as it impacted on many of those on the lowest income although I understand why it was done. A more considered approach would have been better," he said."I'm 68 and still have a mortgage. I go away a couple of times a year - nothing five star - have an old car, but manage fine. I'm more than happy not to receive the payment." 'Last year I turned off all the heating' Gail Impey, 71, a finance manager from Buckinghamshire, will miss out on the payment as her income is just over £35, said she struggled last year when her winter fuel payment was taken away."I turned off all the heating and used all my saved up logs in my log burner," she husband died in 2021, which meant she could no longer retire as she said she could not afford to stop working."Luckily at 71 I am fit enough to work but I do not have a good quality of life. It's just me and the dog. Everything is so expensive, I have to make every penny count," she added: "I earn just over the threshold but I'm taxed on that. I have paid in all my life and it seems I am missing out again. This is not fair and being on my own I have to work harder than ever." 'I didn't miss the winter fuel payment' Mike Hodges, 72, says he did not miss the winter fuel payment when he stopped receiving says his income is above the £35,000 threshold but below £40,000."The threshold could be a lot lower so money can be spent on much more pressing priorities."He thinks the money spent on the fuel payments should go to initiatives for younger people instead. Additional reporting by Kris Bramwell and Alex Emery Get our flagship newsletter with all the headlines you need to start the day. Sign up here.
The Herald Scotland
25 minutes ago
- The Herald Scotland
North missed £140bn of transport investment during last government
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