Council takes action to deliver winter fuel support to Kingston’s most vulnerable pensioners

Since the UK government announced its decision to end winter fuel payments for pensioners not eligible for Pension Credit, Kingston Council has been working on a package of measures to mitigate the impact on those most affected in the borough. 

Pensioner households with incomes of less than £1,000 above the threshold for Pension Credit are being identified by the council. It is inviting them to claim a one-off payment of up to £300 from Kingston’s government-funded Household Support Fund. So far, 159 households have been identified. 

Those already in receipt of Pension Credit will continue to receive winter fuel payments from the government. The council is contacting 190 households in the borough who are potentially eligible for the benefit and are not claiming it, to ensure they apply before the 21 December deadline. Letters are being sent to these households during October.

The council’s Adult Social Care teams are already working to ensure all those on low incomes in receipt of care packages are offered benefit maximisation and financial health checks. 

Alongside this, Kingston is supporting the Department for Work and Pensions’ Pension Credit campaign, sharing information through partner and voluntary sector networks, as well as in targeted printed and online materials to encourage uptake. 

The council is also working with the voluntary and community sector to identify residents who are struggling with their bills this winter. Information about Pension Credit is available on the council’s Cost of Living support web pages www.kingston.gov.uk/costoflivingsupport, along with a range of other support. 

Kingston Council’s Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care and Health Cllr Sabah Hamed said: 

“It’s really important we step in to support the elderly and most vulnerable in our community. As soon as the government announced its decision to remove winter fuel payments from older people not eligible for Pension Credit, we immediately took action to protect our poorer local pensioners most at risk of being pushed further into fuel poverty. 

“We will always put the elderly and most vulnerable at the centre of our priorities and I’m determined we will get support to those who most need it ahead of the winter.”

At the council meeting on 15 October, councillors from across parties were unanimous in their support for a motion put forward by The Opposition Group with regards to winter fuel support for vulnerable pensioners. The motion set out a commitment to write on a cross-party basis to the Chancellor to urge her to reverse the cuts.