Stockport Lib Dems call for government to “think again” to protect pensioners from Winter Fuel cuts

Stockport’s Liberal Democrat Group have submitted a motion ahead of the next meeting of the full council on 1st October, calling on government to think again about it’s planned change to eligibility criteria for pensioners to receive Winter Fuel Payments, a move that is going to remove this vital support from over 50,000 pensioners across our borough, almost 90% of those currently eligible.

Speaking after submitting the motion, Cllr Mark Hunter, Leader of the Council and of the Lib Dems at Stockport Town Hall, said: “Removing Winter Fuel Payments from all pensioners who are not in receipt of pension credit will leave many residents currently on the margins of fuel poverty struggling to heat their homes and stay alive this winter.

“We fully understand the mess left to the public finances by the outgoing Tory government which the new Labour government are trying to tackle, we believe the criteria being applied are too narrow and consideration needs to be given to those pensioners who either do not qualify for Pension Credit or have not yet applied. Other criteria have been suggested by various bodies and we call on Labour to do the decent thing and reconsider this, trying to find a way of giving support to those who rely on it at present.

“As a council we have done much over the past two years to encourage the take-up of Pension Credit and to provide warm spaces over winter to help people avoid crippling bills heating their homes. The government need to meet us part way and relax the criteria to protect our vulnerable older residents.”