Bipartisan Support for Winter Fuel Allowance Cut Mitigation

Hounslow Council votes unanimously for extra support for vulnerable elders

Many pensioners are set to lose an annual payment of £300. Picture: PickPik

September 18, 2024

Councillors from both the Labour and Conservative parties have supported a motion backing action to mitigate the impact of the loss of the Winter Fuel Allowance for many pensioners in the borough.

There was unanimous support for the proposals made by the opposition Conservative group at this Tuesday’s (17 September) borough council meeting.

Councillors voted for the council to begin work with local charities to support older people on lower incomes who are set to lose the winter fuel allowance following the new Labour government’s announcement that it will scrap the payment for 10 million pensioners. Action backed at the meeting also included a new campaign to drive pension credit applications, as well as noting an Age UK campaign to ask the government to reconsider the proposal to scrap the universal payment of the benefit.

Presented by Conservative councillors Peter Thompson (Chiswick Riverside) and Jack Emsley (Chiswick Homefields), the motion gained cross party support following an amendment by the leader and deputy leader of the council which softened the motion’s criticism of the government policy and stopped short of actively calling for the government to reverse its decision. The amended motion states that the government’s cut to the winter fuel allowance will harm thousands of vulnerable older pensioners in the borough and resolves to take immediate action to support residents in need.

Up to 28,000 older people in the borough are set to lose their allowance, including those on low incomes but who do not qualify for pension credit, and those who have high energy needs due to disability and illness.

"Thousands of vulnerable older people in our borough are set to suffer in the coming month’s due to the Labour government’s decision to remove the universal winter fuel allowance, so I welcome Labour councillors who voted for our proposals for the council to mitigate the impact locally,” said Peter Thompson, leader of the Conservative Group on Hounslow Council. “This motion will ensure that the council is now proactively working with local charities, including Age UK, to support vulnerable and disabled pensioners who relied on the winter fuel allowance, as well as driving an information campaign to ensure those still eligible are supported in applying for pension credit. With further bad news expected in Rachel Reeves’ budget next month, we hope that Labour councillors continue to work constructively with us to implement action to mitigate the impact of this government on our borough’s residents.”

Local MPs Ruth Cadbury, Andy Slaughter and Seema Malhotra voted for the cutting of the Winter Fuel Allowance which stops a payment of £300 on a means tested basis for many pensioners. This comes on top of an increase in the energy price cap of 10% which will add around £150 to the average energy bill.

The government says that it was forced to reduce the number of pensioners receiving the Winter Fuel Allowance due to the state of public finances which it claims the previous administration left in a worst position than had been anticipated. The withdrawal of the payment will be largely offset for many pensioners by an above average inflation increase in their pension due to the triple lock.