Low-income pensioners may get £200 payment

Low-income pensioners in Central Bedfordshire could benefit from a one-off £200 payment, following moves by a council to alleviate concerns caused by the stripping back of the winter fuel allowance.

Councillors are due to have their say on 21 November, with a motion proposed to authorise payments from the government's Household Support Fund, which is distributed by councils.

The authority said about 2,200 pensioners locally had lost the winter allowance, with the government confirming payments would now only go to those receiving pension credit or other means-tested benefits.

The government said millions of people would still receive the payment and a state pension rise during this Parliament.

About 10 million people lost their winter allowance of up to £300 in September, with the government saving £1.4bn this financial year as it looks to balance the books.

Independent Aspley and Woburn councillor John Baker said: "This was a shambolic policy announcement and no steps were made to mitigate the problems during the government's October Budget.

"The government subsequently realised that there are plenty of low-income pensioner households that either don't qualify for pensioner credit, or do but are not in receipt of it."

He said the money from the Household Support Fund was ring-fenced, so did not come out of people's council tax.

He added that many councillors had expressed their disappointment in the government's decision.

"As executive member for finance, I acknowledged their concerns and felt more could be done to support low-income pensioner households.

"The [household support] fund is used to meet immediate needs and help those struggling to afford household essentials, including food, energy and water bills, and wider essentials."

A government spokesperson said: "Based on need in their area, local authorities in England will take different approaches to allocating their funding to support struggling households this winter - including those with pensioners – with essentials like food, energy and housing.

"Alongside the Warm Home Discount, over a million pensioners will still receive the Winter Fuel Payment and millions more could see their state pension rise by up to £1,700 this Parliament."

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