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Staff Reporter, 30 Aug
A move to end the winter fuel allowance for all pensioners is to be
extended to Northern Ireland, Stormont’s Communities Minister Gordon
Lyons has confirmed.
Mr Lyons said he “strongly disagreed” with the move by the Labour
Government but said there was “no additional resource” which would
allow the region to diverge from the UK decision.
Meanwhile, the Stormont Executive has written to Prime Minister Sir
Keir Starmer raising concern that the change will have a “negative
impact on a significant number of people of pension age in Northern
Ireland”.
Labour has said that the policy will stop winter fuel payments for
people in England and Wales who are not in receipt of Pension Credit or
other means-tested benefits.
Mr Lyons has now confirmed that the change will also apply to Northern
Ireland.
He said: “On 29 July 2024 the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced
that entitlement to Winter Fuel Payments in England and Wales would be
restricted to those people receiving Pension Credit or other
means-tested benefits only. I strongly disagree with this decision.
“The estimated additional cost to the block grant of maintaining
universal entitlement to a winter fuel payment in Northern Ireland for
winter 2024/25 is ÂŁ44.3 million, and this does not include any
additional delivery or staffing costs.
“Regrettably, there is no additional resource available in the budget
to allow us to diverge from the UK Government decision without
significantly cutting other public services.
“I have made clear to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions my
total opposition to this decision and outlined the detrimental impact
it will have on many people in Northern Ireland.
“I am committed to ensuring that people can access all the support to
which they are entitled and would encourage anyone affected by these
changes to check their benefit entitlement.”
Meanwhile, all of the Stormont ministers have written collectively to
the Prime Minister on the issue. The letter, seen by the PA news
agency, states that ministers “convey our collective concern at your
Government’s intended changes to the Winter Fuel Payments Scheme.”
It goes on to say that the decision “will have a direct and negative
impact on a significant number of people of pension age in Northern
Ireland who are already struggling with the consequences of the rise in
the cost of living”.