MP Jamie Stone hits out over ‘sheer unfairness’ of pensioners losing out on winter fuel payment
Far north MP Jamie Stone is calling for a rethink on the “unfair” changes to winter fuel payments after the universal benefit for pensioners was scrapped.
The move to withdraw the automatic payment was announced by the Scottish Government last week after a decision by the UK government left a funding shortfall for a proposed Holyrood-run alternative.
The payment to pensioners, worth between £100 and £300, will now be means-tested, only going to those who qualify for pension tax credit.
With more pensioners in Caithness and elsewhere in the Highlands suffering from fuel poverty than across the rest of Scotland, calls have been made to broaden the eligibility criteria for the payments so that people in need are not missing out.
Mr Stone, the Liberal Democrat MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, said: “Again and again, people have raised this issue with me. It is the sheer unfairness of it that is upsetting to my constituents.
“The far north is already one of the coldest parts of the UK and the government really must see that pensioners on the margins of qualifying for pension credit should not lose out.
“I shall be raising this matter when parliament returns, in the hope that the government will reconsider the qualifying criteria.”
A previous report showed that residents in Caithness and Sutherland pay 25 per cent more for fuel than the rest of Scotland.
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The report by environmental charity Changeworks showed it cost an estimated £3132 per year to heat an average three-bedroom property in the far north compared to £2450 in other parts of Scotland.
Simon Francis, coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said of the decision to restrict access to the payment: “This is a decision made in Westminster by the Chancellor, but it is pensioners in the Highlands and across the rest of the UK that will pay the price.
“We urge the Chancellor to broaden the targeting of the winter fuel payment which would enable a more generous scheme to be introduced by Scottish ministers.
“The Highlands has one of the highest rates of fuel poverty and unless we see urgent action to keep people warm this winter, one of the first actions of the new UK government will be to condemn more vulnerable Scottish households to cold damp homes this winter.”
Caithness, Sutherland and Ross MSP Maree Todd urged constituents to check their eligibility for pension credit.
“The decision by the Labour UK government to means test the winter fuel payment ensures that pensioners in Highland will face the brunt of Westminster economic chaos,” the SNP member said.
“This decision, made in Westminster, has resulted in the Scottish Government’s budget being cut by an estimated £160 million.”
She added: “My constituency of Caithness, Sutherland and Ross already faces some of the highest levels of fuel poverty in the country.
“The Labour UK government's shameful decision to reduce support will only exacerbate fuel poverty rates and push vulnerable households in my constituency and across the Highlands further into hardship during the harsh winter months.
“I am strongly encouraging pensioners to check if they are eligible for pension credit to ensure that, if they are, they will still receive the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment that they are entitled to.”
Caithness Citizens’ Advice urged people to contact them on 01847 894243 and 01955 605989 or email THUBureau@caithnesscab.casonline.org.uk, to ensure they are not missing out on payments.
