Pension credit claims soar as Chancellor refuses to reverse winter fuel payment cut

Applications for pension credits have reached almost 75,000 in the eight weeks since the new chancellor announced that winter fuel payments for pensioners would be means-tested for the first time.

Figures released by the Department for Work and Pensions on Friday show there have been around 74,400 pension credit applications in the eight weeks since July 29.

This is an increase from 29,500 claims recorded in the eight weeks preceding the announcement.

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But in the seven days starting September 16, the government received 11,800 applications, up from 13,400 the previous week.

The new Labor government announced in July that only older people on benefits such as Pension Credit and Universal Credit would receive help of up to £300 towards their fuel bills over the winter, so that previously this help was universal.

Labor sought to justify its decision by saying it needed to stabilize the economy after the Conservatives left behind a £22 billion financial “black hole”.

Ministers have launched wide-ranging efforts to boost the use of pension credit among eligible retirees, with Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall saying “thousands” were missing out on payments of an average of £3,900 per year. year.

The government has come under fire from all sides over the cut, with Labor members attending the party conference. vote in favor of a motion calling on ministers to reverse their cuts to the winter fuel allowance, an embarrassing blow for the Prime Minister.

The motion was brought forward by the Unite union, which accused the government of engaging in a “second level of austerity”.

Sharon Graham, general secretary of Unite and a vocal critic of Sir Keir, put forward the proposal, citing the election-winning Labor Party’s post-war manifesto, which she described as “hopeful”.

She added: “I don’t understand how our new Labor government can cut the winter fuel allowance for pensioners and leave the super-rich untouched.

“That’s not what people voted for. It’s a bad decision and it needs to be reversed.”

But Ms Kendall defended the much-criticised benefit cut, saying “this Labor government has done more to help the poorest pensioners in the last two months than the Tories have done in 14 years”.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves also stood firm, insisting at the party conference that the policy would not be changed.

She told a side event on Tuesday that Parliament had already voted to restrict payments for fuel in winter and that “there was overwhelming support” for the measure.

The SNP’s Westminster leader, Stephen Flynn, said the Prime Minister “must finally listen to voters, admit he was wrong and reverse the Labor government’s damaging cuts to fuel payments.” winter for millions of retirees.

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But a Labor spokesperson said: “The Tories have destroyed our economy and left a £22 billion black hole in the public finances. They made commitments they couldn’t pay, hid them and fled.

“The Labor Party was elected on the basis of its demonstrated commitment to sound fiscal rules. Economic growth is our primary mission and we will now take the tough decisions to rebuild Britain and make every part of the country better off .”

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A Government spokesperson said: “We are committed to supporting pensioners, and millions of people are set to see their state pension increase by £1,700 this Parliament thanks to our commitment to the triple lock.

“Given the dire state of public finances we have inherited, it is right that we target support to those who need it most.

“More than a million retirees will continue to receive winter fuel payments, and our efforts to boost the use of retirement credits have already led to a 152% increase in applications.

“Many others will also benefit from the £150 Warm Homes Discount to help them pay their energy bills over winter, while our extension of the Household Support Fund will help cover the cost of food , heating and bills.”