Labour Councillors vote against Winter Fuel Payment and Pension review.

A full council meeting of High Peak Borough debated whether the council should lobby the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, to review the proposed changes in Winter Fuel payments, which could see pensioners in High Peak at risk.

An amended motion proposed by Councillor Collins and seconded by Councillor Lomax said:

The government’s approach fails to consider the administrative barriers and stigma that prevent pensioners from claiming pension credit leaving many without the support they desperately need. 

- Request that the Council Leader write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, urging a review of the decision to means test 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.

 -Request that the Chancellor review all benefits to people of pension age and associated processes, to make the pension benefits system and application process simpler and fairer

- 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 to sign the petition themselves.

 - Encourage local efforts to promote uptake through the council services and partnerships with local charities and community organisations in High Peak are supported in claiming their entitlement

This was voted down by all the Labour Councillors, who control High Peak Council.

Speaking for the motion, Cllr Lomax highlighted the plight that some pensioners in High Peak face this coming winter through Government cuts and increased energy costs. With High Peak having colder winters than the UK average, many of the 17,739 pensioners in High Peak who do not receive pension credit could face a bleak winter ahead. A review of the pension system, making it easier to apply and reducing the stigma that many feel is urgently needed.