Restoring of winter fuel payments 'good news' says chief executive of Age UK Wyvern
Nine million more pensioners will receive the winter fuel payments this year after the government U-turned on the previous plan to restrict those who were eligible
The chief executive of a Herefordshire and Worcestershire charity says she welcomes news of the restoring of winter fuel payments for pensioners.
It was announced earlier this week by the government nine million more pensioners will receive the winter fuel payments this year after U-turning on the previous plan to restrict those who were eligible.
Worth up to £300, the payment will be available to the vast majority of pensioners who previously received with anyone with an income of under £35,000 a year now getting the payment automatically.
A decision was made by Labour when the party came into government to limit the winter fuel payment to only those who claimed pension credit and at the time it said it was aimed at balancing what was described as a £22 billion "black hole" in the public finances.
It meant the number of pensioners receiving the payment reduced significantly by around 10 million, from 11.4 million to 1.5 million.
Clare Thomas from Age UK Wyvern says the initial announcement of restricting the number of people who could receive the payment did worry people and is glad they will now get support again.
"It's really good news that more pensioners will be receiving winter fuel payments," she said.
"We had a really big increase in people coming to us after the initial announcement for help because they were desperate and they just came above that threshold and for them that amount of money was really significant.
"I think it is especially helpful in rural areas, we know Herefordshire and Worcestershire can be really rural counties and fuel poverty rates are really high, so older people are having to make the choice between heating and eating."
It's claims the new arrangement will cost £1.25 billion in England and Wales, creating a saving of £450 million for the taxpayer.