A PUBLIC backlash following Labour’s decision to axe almost 40,000 Barnsley pensioners’ winter fuel payments has resulted in the town’s MPs all defending the move - and they claim everyone will be ‘better off’ in the long run.
The controversial decision, announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, confirmed the benefit will now only apply to those who are on pension credit.
Ministers voted in favour of the scrap earlier this week, with the benefit being handed to pensioners who receive less than £218.15 a week - or less than £332.95 as a joint weekly income with their partner.
The payments of up to £300 helped older residents on a limited income keep up with their energy bills and stay warm in winter, and were introduced by the last Labour government in 1997.
But it now means that across Barnsley, 86.7 per cent of pensioners - a total of 38,779 who received the payment last year - will now miss out under the means-tested guidance.
As few as 5,950 people could be eligible under the new rules.
Barnsley North MP Dan Jarvis, Barnsley South MP Stephanie Peacock and Penistone and Stocksbridge MP Marie Tidball all sided with Labour’s move this week despite calls from residents - and scores of Chronicle readers - urging them to reject the move.
Mr Jarvis told the Chronicle: “Nobody serves in this new Labour government to take these kind of decisions and the Chancellor deeply regrets being left in this invidious position by the previous government who shamefully and recklessly covered up the dire state of the public finances.
“Taking difficult decisions to address this now, means the government can continue to support pensioners in a number of other ways.
“Crucially, this includes protecting the pension triple lock - that has increased pensions by £900 this year and is projected to boost pension pots by another £460 in April.
“It also means help through our Warm Homes Plan, cutting energy bills with clean homegrown energy production, and ensuring that pensioners who are eligible receive the benefits that they are entitled to.
“Gripping the public finances also means we can invest in vital public services, like the NHS, which pensioners and so many other local residents rely on.”
Ms Peacock shared similar sentiments and added: “It was, of course, a difficult decision to target the winter fuel payment to the poorest pensioners on pension credit, and I understand people will have concerns about what this change means for them.
“However, we are relentlessly focused on protecting pensions.
“In fact, we have ensured that every pensioner will actually be better off, even with the changes to the payment.”
Last week, Barnsley Council bosses revealed that they will be submitting a motion to the government to help those in need.
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.
Ms Tidball said: “I know how concerned constituents in Penistone and Stocksbridge are feeling about changes to the winter fuel allowance.
“As a disabled person I’ve spent 14 years scrutinising the effect of law and policy on disabled people, older people and vulnerable people.
“That is why I have spoken with the Department of Work and Pensions and HM Treasury raising your concerns and asking them to look at how to mitigate the outcomes of planned changes on non-pension-credit recipient disabled people and those on low incomes.
“Nobody wants to have to restrict the allowance in this way.
“However, there is a £22bn black hole in the budget left by the Conservatives and so difficult decisions must be taken.
“Pensioners with fixed incomes would have been worst-affected by reckless decision-making not to act, as they were when inflation got out of control over the last government.”
