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Pensioners slam attack on universal benefits by Labour government

The Scottish Pensioners’ Forum, the campaigning organisation for older people in Scotland, has today slammed the decision by Chancellor Rachel Reeves to limit the payment of the winter fuel allowance to those in receipt of pension credit, or other means tested benefits.

Rose Jackson, SPF Chair fumed:

“Right off the mark, it’s no surprise that pensioners are being targeted yet again, being stripped of what they have worked for and are entitled to.

“Too many older people, 4 in 10, don’t apply for pension credit, due in part to the complicated system and the indignity surrounding it, but politicians know these figures but continue to exploit this no end.

“Already those pensioners on the cusp of losing out on pension credit, perhaps by £1 or £2, will see themselves worse off than those who receive it – and they promised us a fairer system?

“Many pensioners have already lost access to their free TV licence and now this, the government should be hanging their heads in shame. Any offset on those who don’t need the payment should be made through taxation not tampering with universal benefits in their first few weeks in office – this is a dangerous path they are treading and doesn’t bode well for what’s to come.

“The UK is already near the bottom of the heap when it comes to state pension and welfare provision for older people, sitting at approximately 25th out of 28 across Europe, this decision could well see the UK plummet all the way to the bottom.

“Energy price projections already see an increase of approximately 10% this winter and so it’s not just the value of the winter fuel allowance pensioners will be losing out on; they’ll also have to find the extra money to plug the ever widening gap in their finances. If the choice between eating and heating was a problem before, its set be even worse now.

“It’s difficult to see that pensioners are being penalised to maintain the U.K. government’s pledge to cut National Insurance rates – why does it always have to be that when changing one thing, it then has to become an attack on the most vulnerable?

“I seriously think that the government will have to take a long hard look at their history books and realise that the winter fuel allowance was put in place by them as a replacement for a percentage state pension rise – it’s not just something that can be withdrawn on a whim when they see fit.”

30th July 2024