Tens of thousands of Renfrewshire pensioners could go cold this winter after a bid to reverse planned changes to the winter fuel payment failed at Westminster.
MPs – including Paisley and Renfrewshire North’s elected member Alison Taylor and Paisley and Renfrewshire South’s Johanna Baxter – voted with the Labour government in opposing the Conservative party’s motion.
It called for plans to means-test the winter fuel payment to be scrapped.
The motion, however, failed to secure enough votes, with just 228 MPs supporting it; 348 MPs backed the government and 72 abstained.
One Labour MP, John Trickett, voted against the government, and there were 53 Labour MPs who abstained on the vote.
This year, the winter fuel payment will only be paid to those in receipt of pension credit. For those born before September 22, 1958, the payment will be £200; for those born before September 23, 1944, it will be £300.
Pension credit is available to pensioners with an annual income of less than £11,343.
Speaking before the vote at Westminster, Adam Stachura, policy director at Age Scotland, said: “As things stand, hundreds of thousands of pensioners in Scotland on the lowest incomes and living in fuel poverty will not receive the vital financial support they counted on this winter.
“These aren’t the shoulders to bear the brunt of budget cuts.
“Losing £200 or £300 from their state pension package this winter will make life much harder for thousands who are already struggling to manage their finances.
“Many will face impossible choices which will seriously affect their health.”
Government data shows that 31,641 people were in receipt of winter fuel payments last year, while there were just 4,353 claiming pension credit.
If that’s the same this year, then 86.2 per cent (27,288) of Renfrewshire’s pensioners will lose out on the payment.
In East Renfrewshire, there were 18,417 recipients of the payment last year and 1,500 in receipt of pension credit, meaning 91.9 per cent (16,917) will miss out on the payment in 2024.
The decision on payment of the benefit is devolved to the Scottish Government, but it has confirmed it will follow the UK Government’s lead, having previously said ministers had no choice because Treasury funding for a replacement Scottish benefit that was due to come in this winter had been cut by between £140 million and £160m.
Ms Taylor justified her vote by saying: “This is not a decision anyone wanted to make. The last Government left us with a £22 billion black hole this year and we need to be responsible with the public finances. This is just one measure and Labour will set out a complete budget at the end of October.
“It is important to get the facts straight. The vote today does not change the position in Scotland – this vote only affects people in England and Wales. That is because from October, the Winter Fuel Allowance is devolved, and the Scottish Parliament will soon vote on eligibility in Scotland. The Scottish Government have also made the decision – backed by their own expert panel – to means test the winter fuel payment.
“The winter fuel payment is not being abolished. It is being targeted at the poorest pensioners. In our area that means that thousands of people in receipt of pension credit will still receive the payment this winter, assuming the Scottish Government decides to use the same qualifying criteria. It is important that anyone eligible for pension credit applies for it, and I will help anyone who needs assistance to apply.
“Pensioner’s incomes will continue to increase this year. Last year, the state pension increased by £900 and next year we expect it to increase by around £400. The Government have absolutely guaranteed the triple lock on pensions for the lifetime of this Parliament, meaning that pension income will always rise and never fall – a guarantee that is a significant financial commitment over the course of the Parliament.”
Meanwhile, Ms Baxter MP said: “These are tough choices which are not made lightly. They are not the choices we wanted to make or expected to make, but they are necessary in the circumstances that this government has inherited. There were no easy options, but not acting was not an option. I, and this government, will always be open and transparent with you about the state of the public finances and the tough choices we must take to protect our economic stability.
“I will continue to do all I can to ensure that this UK Labour Government puts in place a sustainable and costed plan to protect the most vulnerable in our society.”
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