With elderly Brits anxious about their heating bills after the Chancellor removed the Winter Fuel Payment from millions of people, two Labour-run councils are handing out food vouchers for struggling older residents.
Adur District Council and Worthing Borough Council—both in West Sussex—said that this month, they would offer £200 to 200 households that fall just outside the eligibility criteria for a Winter Fuel Payment.
Cllr Dom Ford, a Worthing Borough Council cabinet member, said the vouchers will be accepted in most major supermarkets and could “help take some of the worry away” for poorer local pensioners.
Cllr Sharon Sluman, a Adur’s District Council cabinet member added: “There is a lot of support available for people struggling with the cost of living, but we know that there are many retired people who fall just shy of claiming Pension Credit and will miss out on Winter Fuel Payments this year.” She noted that specialist teams will notify those eligible for the vouchers.
The project is being funded using the Household Support Fund – money from the Government to help residents struggling with the cost of living.
In July, Rachel Reeves sparked fury by revealing that the Government was planning to cut Winter Fuel Payments – up to £300 – for those not claiming pension credit.
The move is alleged to save £1.5bn a year. In November, the Prime Minister justified the need for the cut by telling a BBC local radio station that “when you inherit a broken economy… very difficult decisions have to be made.”
If you don’t live in the jurisdictions of the West Sussex councils running this scheme, you may still be able to claim support from your local authority.
For example, Camden Council grants up to £500 to assist residents who cannot afford essentials like food, energy bills or housing.
Likewise, in the northwest, Blackpool Council provides up to £300 payments to households to cover energy and water. The payments will go directly to your energy or water supplier.