Gedling Borough notes:
• The Labour Government’s recent decision to restrict the Winter Fuel Payment to only pensioners in receipt of means-tested benefits like Pension Credit, as announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
• The estimated impact of this decision, which Age UK says will mean 2 million pensioners who badly need the money to stay warm this winter will not receive it.
• The significant role that Winter Fuel Payments play in helping older residents across Gedling Borough and the UK afford heating during the coldest months, thereby preventing 'heat or eat' dilemmas and safeguarding health.
• The additional strain this decision will place on vulnerable pensioners, many of whom do not claim Pension Credit despite being eligible, further exacerbating their financial hardship.
Gedling Borough Council believes:
• That the Winter Fuel Payment has been a lifeline for many older people across the Borough and that restricting its availability solely to those on Pension Credit risks leaving many pensioners in financial hardship.
• While some pensioners currently in receipt of the Winter Fuel Payment may not require it, other pensioners within Gedling Borough sit just above the cut-off for Pension Credit and will now lose their entitlement to the Winter Fuel Payment.
Therefore, Gedling Borough Council resolves to:
1) Launch a Council-led local awareness campaign in a future Contacts Magazine to alert and encourage those eligible for Pension Credit to apply for it because doing so will trigger access to Winter Fuel Payments.
2) Send a letter from the Council Leader to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, urging a review of the decision to means-test the Winter Fuel Payment and asking the Government to ensure that vulnerable pensioners, particularly those who do not claim Pension Credit, are protected from fuel poverty.
3) Commit the Council to signing the ‘Save the Winter Fuel Payment for Struggling Pensioners’ petition being run by Age UK and write to all members offering them the opportunity to sign the petition themselves.
4) Encourage local efforts to promote Pension Credit uptake through council services and partnerships with local charities and community organisations to ensure that all eligible pensioners in Gedling Borough are supported in claiming their entitlement.
Proposer: Cllr Mike Adams
Seconder: Cllr Boyd Elliott
Minutes:
Councillors Clarke and Greensmith left the meeting
Councillor Adams, seconded by Councillor Elliott, proposed a motion in the following terms:
Gedling Borough notes:
· The Labour Government’s recent decision to restrict the Winter Fuel Payment to only pensioners in receipt of means-tested benefits like Pension Credit, as announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
· The estimated impact of this decision, which Age UK says will mean 2 million pensioners who badly need the money to stay warm this winter will not receive it.
· The significant role that Winter Fuel Payments play in helping older residents across Gedling Borough and the UK afford heating during the coldest months, thereby preventing 'heat or eat' dilemmas and safeguarding health.
· The additional strain this decision will place on vulnerable pensioners, many of whom do not claim Pension Credit despite being eligible, further exacerbating their financial hardship.
Gedling Borough Council believes:
· That the Winter Fuel Payment has been a lifeline for many older people across the Borough and that restricting its availability solely to those on Pension Credit risks leaving many pensioners in financial hardship.
· While some pensioners currently in receipt of the Winter Fuel Payment may not require it, other pensioners within Gedling Borough sit just above the cut-off for Pension Credit and will now lose their entitlement to the Winter Fuel Payment.
Therefore, Gedling Borough Council resolves to:
1) Launch a Council-led local awareness campaign in a future Contacts Magazine to alert and encourage those eligible for Pension Credit to apply for it because doing so will trigger access to Winter Fuel Payments.
2) Send a letter from the Council Leader to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, urging a review of the decision to means-test the Winter Fuel Payment and asking the Government to ensure that vulnerable pensioners, particularly those who do not claim Pension Credit, are protected from fuel poverty.
3) Commit the Council to signing the ‘Save the Winter Fuel Payment for Struggling Pensioners’ petition being run by Age UK and write to all members offering them the opportunity to sign the petition themselves.
4) Encourage local efforts to promote Pension Credit uptake through council services and partnerships with local charities and community organisations to ensure that all eligible pensioners in Gedling Borough are supported in claiming their entitlement.
Proposer: Cllr Mike Adams
Seconder: Cllr Boyd Elliot
Councillor Greensmith rejoined the meeting
An amended motion was proposed by Councillor Payne and seconded by Councillor Hollingsworth, in the following terms:
Gedling Borough notes:
• The £22 billion black hole left in the public finances by the previous Conservative government (now being investigated by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility), which has forced the Labour Government into making the tough decision to target the Winter Fuel Payment to pensioners in receipt of Pension Credit, as announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
• The estimated impact of this decision, which Age UK believes will mean 2 million pensioners who badly need the money to stay warm this winter will not receive it.
• The significant role that Winter Fuel Payments play in helping older residents across Gedling Borough and the UK afford heating during the coldest months, thereby preventing 'heat or eat' dilemmas and safeguarding health and therefore welcomes the £460 increase in the State Pension for the year ahead, as a result of the government’s commitment to the Pension Triple Lock
• The strain this decision may place on vulnerable pensioners, particularly in light of the fact the previous Conservative government failed to address the injustice that 880,000 pensioners do not claim Pension Credit despite being eligible, further exacerbating their financial hardship.
• The Labour government’s decision to extend the Household Support Fund – providing £421 million to pensioners and others struggling to heat their homes or afford other essential items over the colder months.
• The Labour government’s action to write to all pensioners in receipt of pensioner Housing Benefit, encouraging them to apply for Pension Credit, given they are highly likely to be eligible and therefore eligible for Winter Fuel Allowance.
Gedling Borough Council believes:
• That the Winter Fuel Payment, which was introduced by a Labour government has been a lifeline for many older people across the Borough and that the £22 billion black hole in the public finances left by the previous Conservative government, which has led to restricting its availability solely to those on Pension Credit risks leaving many pensioners in financial hardship.
• While some pensioners currently in receipt of the Winter Fuel Payment may not require it, other pensioners within Gedling Borough sit just above the cut-off for Pension Credit and will now lose their entitlement to the Winter Fuel Payment.
• The previous Conservative government failed to support pensioners by failing on its commitment to combine pensioner Housing Benefit with Pension Credit, which would have increased uptake of Pension Credit, given pensioner Housing Benefit is a ‘gateway’ to Pension Credit and therefore the Winter Fuel Allowance.
Therefore, Gedling Borough Council resolves to:
1) Launch a Council-led local awareness campaign in a future Contacts Magazine and using all other channels available to alert and encourage those eligible for Pension Credit to apply for it because doing so will trigger access to Winter Fuel Payments.
2) Send a letter from the Council Leader to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, urging the government to take swift action on its commitment to combine pensioner Housing Benefit with Pension Credit, following the decision to means-test the Winter Fuel Payment and asking the Government to ensure that Nottinghamshire County Council ensures vulnerable pensioners, particularly those who do not claim Pension Credit, are protected from fuel poverty, by using the extended £421 million Household Support Fund to support them
3) Commit the Council to working with Age UK on supporting pensioners who require support applying for Pension Credit and note all members offering them have the opportunity to sign the Age UK petition themselves.
4) Encourage local efforts to promote Pension Credit uptake through council services and partnerships with local charities, community organisations and our local Members of Parliament to ensure that all eligible pensioners in Gedling Borough are supported in claiming their entitlement.
5) Urge Nottinghamshire County Council to use its share of the extended Household Support Fund to support vulnerable pensioners with struggling to heat their homes or afford other essential items over the colder months.
On being put to vote, the amendment was carried and became the substantive motion. The new substantive motion was put to a vote and was carried.
RESOLVED that:
Gedling Borough notes:
• The £22 billion black hole left in the public finances by the previous Conservative government (now being investigated by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility), which has forced the Labour Government into making the tough decision to target the Winter Fuel Payment to pensioners in receipt of Pension Credit, as announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
• The estimated impact of this decision, which Age UK believes will mean 2 million pensioners who badly need the money to stay warm this winter will not receive it.
• The significant role that Winter Fuel Payments play in helping older residents across Gedling Borough and the UK afford heating during the coldest months, thereby preventing 'heat or eat' dilemmas and safeguarding health and therefore welcomes the £460 increase in the State Pension for the year ahead, as a result of the government’s commitment to the Pension Triple Lock
• The strain this decision may place on vulnerable pensioners, particularly in light of the fact the previous Conservative government failed to address the injustice that 880,000 pensioners do not claim Pension Credit despite being eligible, further exacerbating their financial hardship.
• The Labour government’s decision to extend the Household Support Fund – providing £421 million to pensioners and others struggling to heat their homes or afford other essential items over the colder months.
• The Labour government’s action to write to all pensioners in receipt of pensioner Housing Benefit, encouraging them to apply for Pension Credit, given they are highly likely to be eligible and therefore eligible for Winter Fuel Allowance.
Gedling Borough Council believes:
• That the Winter Fuel Payment, which was introduced by a Labour government has been a lifeline for many older people across the Borough and that the £22 billion black hole in the public finances left by the previous Conservative government, which has led to restricting its availability solely to those on Pension Credit risks leaving many pensioners in financial hardship.
• While some pensioners currently in receipt of the Winter Fuel Payment may not require it, other pensioners within Gedling Borough sit just above the cut-off for Pension Credit and will now lose their entitlement to the Winter Fuel Payment.
• The previous Conservative government failed to support pensioners by failing on its commitment to combine pensioner Housing Benefit with Pension Credit, which would have increased uptake of Pension Credit, given pensioner Housing Benefit is a ‘gateway’ to Pension Credit and therefore the Winter Fuel Allowance.
Therefore, Gedling Borough Council resolves to:
1) Launch a Council-led local awareness campaign in a future Contacts Magazine and using all other channels available to alert and encourage those eligible for Pension Credit to apply for it because doing so will trigger access to Winter Fuel Payments.
2) Send a letter from the Council Leader to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, urging the government to take swift action on its commitment to combine pensioner Housing Benefit with Pension Credit, following the decision to means-test the Winter Fuel Payment and asking the Government to ensure that Nottinghamshire County Council ensures vulnerable pensioners, particularly those who do not claim Pension Credit, are protected from fuel poverty, by using the extended £421 million Household Support Fund to support them
3) Commit the Council to working with Age UK on supporting pensioners who require support applying for Pension Credit and note all members offering them have the opportunity to sign the Age UK petition themselves.
4) Encourage local efforts to promote Pension Credit uptake through council services and partnerships with local charities, community organisations and our local Members of Parliament to ensure that all eligible pensioners in Gedling Borough are supported in claiming their entitlement.
5) Urge Nottinghamshire County Council to use its share of the extended Household Support Fund to support vulnerable pensioners with struggling to heat their homes or afford other essential items over the colder months.