MPs urged to stand up for older people and vote down Winter Fuel Payment means testing

 Rachel Bowen, Director of Policy at the Office of the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales said:

“The debate and vote in Westminster next week on plans to means test the Winter Fuel Payment is welcome, providing an opportunity for members to force a change of direction from the UK Government and protect hundreds of thousands of older people from the impact of the Chancellor’s decision.

“As it stands, the policy will drive many older people into, or further into, poverty, while many more will struggle to make ends meet or see their health and well-being deteriorate as a result of living in cold homes.

“Many thousands of older people who are still eligible for Winter Fuel Payment will also miss out on this vital support as they do not receive the Pension Credit they are entitled to, and the initiatives announced to enable people to claim do not reflect the complex reasons why people are currently missing out.

“Nor do they address the issue of the ‘cliff edge’, where people who may be just a few pence over threshold to claim Pension Credit will now miss out on hundreds of pounds that would make a significant difference to their finances.

“We would therefore urge members to stand up for their older constituents and vote down the measures, in order to protect the Winter Fuel Payment and the crucial support it provides, especially with winter on the horizon.”