To consider the following Motion in the names of Councillors Munro and Marchington;
“This Council
notes:
1)
The recent announcement by the Labour Government to
end universal Winter Fuel Payments and restrict eligibility to only
those in receipt of Pension Credits and other benefits;
2) The Government won a vote in Parliament on the 10th September on the plan to restrict the payments for most pensioners by 348 votes to 228. Liberal Democrat MPs backed a motion in Parliament to block the Government’s cut to Winter Fuel Payments;
3) Though many argue that universal Winter Fuel Payments are not necessary, Council is deeply concerned that many pensioners on lower and middle incomes will not now receive the payments. Across England and Wales, the number of people eligible for Winter Fuel Payments will fall by 10 million (from 11.4 million to only 1.5 million);
4) In Kirklees the number of pensioners affected by the change in eligibility criteria is 63,108. That means that just under 88% of pensioners in Kirklees currently eligible for Winter Fuel Payments will no longer be able to claim the payment from this winter onwards;
5) That the Government did not carry out an impact assessment as part of their decision to cut winter fuel support;
6) By making the Winter Fuel Payment a means-tested benefit tied to claims for Pension Credit, the Government projected savings of £1.4 billion per year. The Government’s savings calculation were based on an assumption of a rise in Pension Credit applications by 95,000, resulting in additional Pension Credit expenditure of £370 million a year. However, new analysis by Policy in Practice, a consultancy who work with local authorities, has thrown the Government’s projected £1.4 billion savings in doubt, as there has been a surge in claims for Pension Credit since the Government’s announcement. This means that any savings could be significantly lower than the Treasury expected, as many of those affected will need to seek other benefits to help them stay warm;
7)
From the 1st October this year, the
energy price cap for a typical household that uses gas and
electricity and pays by Direct Debit will go up from £1,568
to £1,717 per year, an increase of around 10%. The new energy
price cap, which combined by the removal of Winter Fuel Payments,
will likely push thousands of local pensioners into fuel
poverty.
This Council believes:
1)
That the
Labour Government has set the threshold at which pensioners do not
qualify for Winter Fuel Payments far too low. Only those receiving
a pension of less than £218.15 a week (or £332.95 a
week for couples) are eligible for Pension Credits. This is
significantly lower than the living wage rate;
2)
While claims
for Pension Credit has increased in recent months, the take-up is
still too low, with only 63% of those eligible nationwide receiving
them – and over 880,000 pensioners not doing so. Council
recognises the role we have to play to increase awareness of
benefits, such as Pension Credit, to ensure people are aware of the
support they are entitled to;
3)
Balancing
the nation’s books on the backs of low-income pensioners is
the wrong political choice and will likely increase pressure on
health and care services and on an already stretched NHS.
This Council, therefore,
resolves to:
1)
Instruct the
Chief Executive to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer calling
for the policy on linking Winter Fuel Payments to Pension Credit
receipt to be immediately paused and introduce a new threshold to
determine eligibility for Winter Fuel Payments. Council further
requests the Chief Executive write to all MPs covering Kirklees,
asking them to give their formal support to halting the changes to
the Winter Fuel Payment eligibility;
2)
Request all
group leaders at Kirklees Council sign a joint letter to the
Chancellor of the Exchequer calling for the new Winter Fuel Payment
policy to be suspended and reviewed and for a new threshold
determining eligibility for Winter Fuel Payments to be
adopted;
3) Urgently commence a significant awareness campaign to maximise uptake of Pension Credits. This will include use of council noticeboards, social media, promotion in local press and targeted letters to those who may be eligible.”