Pension credit scheme reinstated in Plymouth

Many retirees hesitant to seek benefits

A successful campaign to encourage people to claim pension credit is expected to be reinstated in Plymouth after the government scrapped annual winter fuel payments to an  estimated 40,000 pensioners in the city.

All but the poorest pensioners – those receiving pension credit – will no longer get up to £300 to help with their energy bills.

City councillors say many people are too proud to claim pension credit, and many others are not eligible by just a few pounds.

At a council meeting, Conservative leader Cllr Andy Lugger (Southway) said the government needed to be made aware of the potential impact on the health and wellbeing of those affected in Plymouth.

The council supported his motion to ask the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) to investigate alternative ways of alleviating fuel poverty for Plymouth pensioners who would no longer receive the winter fuel allowance.

And members agreed with a Labour amendment that the council finds its own way of helping people through the government’s Household Support Fund (HSF) and other initiatives including a campaign in schools called Tell Granny.

The campaign more than a decade ago got children to encourage grandparents to apply for benefits. Leaflets went out in school bookbags and was very successful, the council was told.

Cllr Lugger said he had “absolutely no concern” for wealthy pensioners who could afford to use their winter fuel payments for presents for children and grandchildren.

“I have concern for those in the middle ground, as those on lower fortunes will be helped by the pension credit trigger.

“Age UK reports that a massive cohort have weekly incomes less than £50 a week above the poverty line, they do not qualify for benefits and do need winter fuel payments. These are the people that will suffer.”

He urged councillors and people in the public gallery and watching the meeting on YouTube to sign a petition by Age UK to save the winter fuel payment for struggling pensioners.

Cabinet member for housing, co-operative development and communities Cllr Chris Penbethy (Lab, St Peter and the Waterfront) said the council’s Building Bridges to Opportunity programme would address fuel poverty.

And he said he wanted to get rid of the stigma attached to claiming benefits.

“Pensioners in receipt of benefit are getting paid back some of what they have put in during their younger years. There is no shame in that.”

He said there were lots or organisations around the city including Citizens Advice working to help people claim the money they were entitled to.

Cllr Terri Beer (Ind, Plympton Erle) was concerned about people in palliative care who she said are not capable of filling out forms for benefits. She feared pensioners’ bus passes would be targetted next.

Cllr Rebecca Smith (Con, Plymouth Radstock), who is also the MP for South West Devon, voted in parliament for a Conservative motion against scrapping the winter fuel payment.

She said the all-or-nothing approach was wrong and benefits should be tapered to recognise people’s changes in circumstance.

And she said distributing money should be put in the hands of the council not the DWP.

During covid the council was able to give out £600,000 of discretionary payments which helped many people on the edge of poverty.

“I know the new Household Support Funding for the next six months could be used to target those who miss out on winter fuel payments, but we are talking about tens of thousands of residents here who need it.

“Whilst the HSF is a healthy amount of money, it is not the same as £200 to £300 per individual and that money has to help younger people and families too.”

Plymouth City Council received £2.2 million from the Household Support Fund in the last six months. The fund, brought in by the former Conservative government help residents pay for food and fuel during the cost of living crisis, keeps being extended after campaigning from local councils.

More than £1.4 million was spent in Plymouth to provide food vouchers during school holidays to families with children eligible for free school meals, to the value of £13 per child, per week.