Winter fuel payment: Bradford council to raise awareness of support

Officials in Bradford say they will work to ensure vulnerable older people get the support they need following changes to the way winter fuel payments are made.

An estimated 64,000 pensioners in the district will lose out on the money after the government said the payments - worth up to £300 - would only go to those claiming pension credit and some other benefits.

At a council meeting earlier this week opposition councillors united to call for the Labour-run authority to demand a halt to the cuts.

In response, the council said it would be bringing in a raft of measures to "get the word out" about the other winter help available for the most vulnerable.

The Conservatives, Lib Dems, and Green Party groups in Bradford brought separate motions to the council meeting earlier this week.

Matt Edwards, leader of the Green Group, said: "The new Labour Government was meant to bring change, but how quickly that glimmer of hope has faded, especially for millions of pensioners who have already been struggling after 14 years of a Government that repeatedly punished those on the lowest incomes."

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said the cut is necessary to plug a £22bn hole in public finances .

Sarah Ferriby, executive member for healthy people and places, said there was "clearly no quick fix" and "difficult decisions" had to be made.

"Locally, we are encouraging those entitled to pension credits to apply so they can claim winter fuel payments and access other benefits they may be entitled to," she said.

"There's actually a knock-on effect from this policy change. There's been a renewed energy and success in signposting older people to welfare payments."

Bradford's Labour councillors voted against the opposition motions, but successfully passed their own, urging the government to "make sure the Winter Fuel Payment is easily available for those pensioners that need it".

They also called for measures such as home insulation, extending the Warm Homes Discount, a windfall tax on oil and gas companies, and investment in clean energy to reduce bills.

Rebecca Poulsen, leader of the Conservative group, said many pensioners do not even know about pension credits, with only 63% applying.

Ferriby said the council had already contacted 2,600 households to encourage them to apply for benefits.

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