Council opposes cuts to Winter Fuel Allowance

Last week, North Devon Council voted to condemn the proposed cuts to the Winter Fuel Allowance, recognising the significant impact they will have on vulnerable pensioners, particularly in the region's rural areas. 

The council has said they are committed to exploring how the Housing Support Fund (HSF) can provide additional financial assistance to pensioners who are just above the qualifying threshold and those with low EPC ratings, who will be heavily affected by the loss of this payment.

Age UK has previously warned that 2.5 million pensioners nationwide could face “serious trouble” this winter due to the cuts. 

In North Devon alone, over 22,100 pensioners stand to lose out, a worrying prospect for an area where rural homes are often older and less energy-efficient, making them more costly to heat. 

Over 70 per cent of rural homes in the UK were built before 1980, meaning many pensioners in poorly insulated housing are at a greater risk of fuel poverty.

Liberal Democrat MP for North Devon, Ian Roome, said: “Thousands of pensioners here in North Devon are desperately worried about how they will make it through this winter. With over 30,000 Excess Winter Deaths recorded annually, it is a moral obligation to explore alternatives for those who need it the most.”

In addition to planning to allocate a portion of the HSF specifically for vulnerable pensioners just above the threshold, the council also intends to launch a local outreach campaign to raise awareness about Pension Credit and other benefits. 

This campaign will target pensioners who may be eligible but are not currently claiming the support they need.

The Lib Dem-run council has already made an effort to contact all eligible pensioners who have not yet applied for Pension Credit, ensuring that no one in the community is left “without the assistance they deserve.”

North Devon Council has said it will continue to advocate for policies that prioritise the well-being of all residents, especially those now facing a higher risk this winter.