A concerned councillor says thousands of pensioners in the East Riding will have to choose between “heating and eating” this year.
He says it's because of the controversial decision to scrap the winter fuel allowance, for all except those on pension credit, and says it will leave tens of thousands short this winter.
Cllr Jeremy Wilcock raised a motion at an East Riding of Yorkshire Council meeting for the Council to write to the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, as well as calling for all of the area’s MPs to call for a “fairer” method to be used to calculate who will receive the payment.
Cllr John Bovill seconded Cllr Wilcock’s motion and told the chamber:
“We all knew that difficult decisions would have to be made but none of us would have guessed that the first way the Labour Government was going to bring about change was by punishing the poor and vulnerable pensioners whilst we have millionaires and billionaires getting richer.”
The Government insists that the decision to cut the blanket winter fuel allowance given to all pensioners was necessary due to a £22 billion black hole in the country’s finances which was left behind by the previous regime.
Cllr Wilcock’s motion, which ultimately passed 52-3, also sought to raise awareness of the Pension Credit system. Cllr Wilcock stated that only 63% of those eligible for Pension Credit actually receive the support.
Cllr Bovill argued that the Pension Credit sign up forms are overcomplicated, saying “anyone would think the system is set up to make it as difficult as possible to apply, so people just give up.”
Plan to Deal with Scarborough Empty Shop Numbers
East Riding Councillor: Why Are Our Children Worth Less Than Everyone Else's?
Mud Rescue Drama in Whitby Harbour
£44,000 Funding Boost to Help Coastal Communities Feel More Connected and Supported
Maximum Tax Increase for Humberside Fire Authority Leaves it £3.5m Short
£150,000 Funding to Reduce Winter Deaths in North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire Council Approves £150,000 Financial Support for Scarborough Athletic Football Club
Yorkshire Coast Awaits Next Steps as National Visitor Levy Consultation Concludes
Council Update on Operation of Scarborough's Alpamare Water Park
Whitby Town New Managers Beaten On Debut After Last Gasp Killer Blow
Bridlington Town Bounce Back Continues
Local Residents Launch Campaign Against Proposed Wind Farm at Woldgate
Comments
Add a comment