A survey has been launched to capture the impact of restricting eligibility for winter fuel payments in South Shropshire. It has been initiated by Stuart Anderson MP as the latest stage in his campaign to reinstate the benefit for pensioners.
Almost a third of residents in South Shropshire were eligible for the payments, when the government made the decision to restrict eligibility in September 2024. They helped with the cost of energy bills during the colder months.
24,824 across South Shropshire had benefitted from the payments in 2022-23. It will now only be paid to 2,229 pensioners, who have an active claim for Pension Credit.
The Department for Work and Pensions has estimated that only six out of ten eligible pensioners have claimed to receive this support. Alongside promoting applications, Stuart has called for the eligibility threshold to be reviewed.
It follows reports that approximately 130,000 people across the country will miss out on winter fuel payments since they are up to £500 a year over the threshold for receiving Pension Credit.
In a letter to the Prime Minister on 6th January 2025, Stuart said that those who narrowly miss the criteria may end up worse off than some of those qualifying for the payment.
A response dated 24th January stated: "The Government currently has no plans to extend the eligibility criteria for Pension Credit." Stuart is now inviting residents and organisations supporting them to describe the impact of the restriction.
The campaign is a key part of Stuart's plan to support local communities, given their importance in South Shropshire. Stuart wants to deliver the changes necessary to help local communities thrive by addressing the challenges they face.
Stuart Anderson MP said:
"Our local communities in South Shropshire make it such a wonderful place to live. They also have unique needs, which have sadly been compounded by this government's decisions. Fuel poverty, for example, is an ongoing issue in rural areas like ours. It has been worsened by restricting eligibility for Winter Fuel Payments - a decision I have campaigned strongly against. January has seen some of the coldest weather in fifteen years. At the same time, thousands of pensioners across South Shropshire have been denied access to the payments this year. It is my commitment, as part of my plan for South Shropshire, to support our local communities. This means understanding the challenges that they face and campaigning for meaningful change to ensure support for our communities improves. So, I am inviting residents and the organisations that support them to let me know the impact this decision has had."
