THE fallout from a controversial decision to scrap a winter fuel payment for pensioners - which will see thousands in Barnsley missing out - will result in Barnsley Council bosses submitting a motion to the government in order to help those in need.
Payments of up to £300 helped older residents keep up with their energy bills and stay warm during the colder months.
However, it will now be limited to people over state pension age who are receiving pension credit or a limited number of other benefits.
It will mean that across Barnsley, 86.7 per cent of pensioners - a total of 38,779 who received the payment last year - will miss out under the new means-tested guidance.
As few as 5,950 people could be eligible under the new rules.
Barnsley’s ruling Labour group will table a motion at the full council meeting on September 26.
The motion will call on the new government to undertake a full review of eligibility for winter fuel payments to ensure that pensioners are supported through the winter period.
It states: “This council acknowledges the decision by the incoming Labour government to remove the universal access to the winter fuel allowance from all pensioners to those claiming pension credit or other low income-related benefits.
“We recognise that this is not a decision taken lightly and that the new government must take difficult decisions on spending to address the £22bn black hole in the public finances left by the previous Conservative government.
“There are clearly some pensioners on very high incomes, or those living overseas, who do not need to be in receipt of this and this is a saving that can be made.
“Notwithstanding the above, this council believes that the removal of the universal allowance will have a considerable impact on low and middle-income pensioners who are not eligible for pension credit or those on very low incomes who have not yet applied.
“A review of the eligibility criteria for the allowance should take place immediately, in consultation with pensioners’ representative groups, and that due consideration should be given to protecting those pensioners on low and middle incomes who may be struggling with the cost of energy this winter.”
Chief executive Sarah Norman will write to the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, to set out the council’s concerns on the matter and to request that a review takes place.
Council leader Sir Steve Houghton added: “Fourteen years of Conservative failure has left a £22bn black hole in public finances, with the new Labour government left to clear up the mess.
“That will of course mean difficult decisions on public spending.
“We are concerned that withdrawing the winter fuel allowance for the majority of pensioners will have a profound impact on older people in Barnsley.
“Our motion calls on the government to review the winter fuel allowance changes.
“Barnsley’s Labour council will do what we can to support pensioners this winter and beyond.
“That includes working with partners to increase the uptake of pension credit and developing our own hardship scheme to support those in need.”
