Janice R. Andrews
Rachel Reeves of Labour wants to calm people down about the recent move to cut winter fuel payouts. She is telling low-income pensioners to check to see if they are eligible for the government’s Pension Credit. The Chancellor is getting ready to back a “week of action” to bring more attention to the benefit, which could give people who are qualified an average of £3,900 a year.
Tomorrow, the project will begin to fix the problem that up to 880,000 seniors are not getting their Pension Credit. Families, friends, and neighbours will be asked to help spread the word and make sure that no one who qualifies is left out. It is important to note that people who get Pension Credit will still be able to get a winter heat payment, which has been a big worry for many who have been hit by the cuts.
Some Labour MPs are upset with Rachel Reeves for her controversial choice to cut seniors’ winter heat payments by about 10 million. The budget imbalance of £22 billion, which Reeves says was caused by the former Conservative government, is being fixed by the cuts. In response to the criticism, Reeves has stressed how important it is to make these tough choices, saying that the cuts are needed to help those who need it most and keep the economy stable.
“The £22 billion black hole inherited from previous governments means we have to make tough choices to fix our economy,” Reeves said. “We guarantee that 1.3 million pensioners who already get Pension Credit will get help with their fuel bills this year by giving Winter Fuel Payments to those who need them the most.” But a lot more people are qualified, and we need to help them use.”
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall agreed with Reeves that something needs to be done. She said that thousands of seniors are missing out on Pension Credit, which can help them make a lot more money. Kendall said, “It’s easier than ever to see if you qualify.” “I want everyone to use our online calculator to check and see if their situation has changed.” Families, friends, and neighbours can also do a lot to help by telling their loved ones to apply for this important benefit.
People over the age of 65 who make less than £218.15 a week (or £332.95 a couple) should check to see if they are eligible for Pension Credit, says the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). People with serious disabilities, carers, or parents of a child or young person living with them may be able to get extra benefits.
With the “week of action” about to start, Labour wants to not only calm people down about the changes, but also make sure that vulnerable pensioners get the money they need to deal with rising fuel costs.
