The cut to winter fuel allowance has proved to be a controversial measure introduced by the government but one local council is stepping in to help pensioners.
Tower Hamlets Council is offering 1,500 pensioners £175 cash payments to be collected from post offices to make up for the loss.
The idea was thought up by the borough’s mayor Lutfur Rahman and councillor Saied Ahmed and there is also the budget for 5,000 applicants.
On top of this, the council is opening up a ‘warm hub’ at the town hall so pensioners can keep warm and has handed out clothes like gloves, hats and socks.
Keir Starmer’s government has come under fire after MPs voted in favour of cutting winter fuel payments to pensioners.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that the benefit would no longer be universal, and instead is to be mean tested – meaning only the poorest will receive it.
Tower Hamlets mayor Lutfur Rahman said: ‘I’ve spoken with many elderly residents who are afraid of being forced to endure life-threateningly low temperatures this winter or having to make the impossible choice between heating and eating because their access to the winter fuel allowance has been withdrawn.
‘As winter bites and temperatures plummet, we have stepped in to fill the void left by these cuts, as we have before by becoming the first council to introduce universal free school meals and to restore the education maintenance allowance.
‘We’re restoring this vital lifeline for pensioners in Tower Hamlets, who are receiving letters from me, allowing them to instantly collect cash payments at any post office branch.
‘I urge other councils to follow our lead and call on the government to reverse the cuts to the winter fuel allowance to protect pensioners this winter, as we are in Tower Hamlets.’
The council has also launched a campaign to raise awareness for eligible pensioners about claiming pension credit.
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It said an estimated £17 million worth of pension credit benefit is going unclaimed in Tower Hamlets.
This means more than 4,000 households in the borough are missing out on payments worth on average £3,900 a year.
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