Just weeks after the General Election, in one of their first announcements, the Labour Government announced it will scrap the Winter Fuel Payments to millions pensioners across the country. A major policy shift that was not included in their recent manifesto.
This change will mean that only pensioners in receipt of Pension Credit will continue to receive the payment. In the most recent data 41,164 Ealing pensioners are currently in receipt of Winter Fuel Payments, with only 8,852 in receipt of Pension Credit. This means that just over 30,000 Ealing pensioners will no longer receive this payment.
With news from Ofgem that the energy price gap will increase by 10% this winter, it means some of the most vulnerable in our society will be hit hardest by both the increasing cost of bills and at the same time a reduction in their income.
We call on Ealing Council to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to reconsider this decision and call on her to continue Winter Fuel Payments to all pensioners and for Ealing Council to take measures to protect Ealing's pensioners.