Communities Minister welcomes government u-turn on winter fuel payments
Date published:
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has welcomed the UK government's u-turn on the Winter Fuel Payment for pensioners with an income of, or below, Pound 35,000 a year.
Funding accompanying the announcement made by HM Treasury today in relation to pensioners in England and Wales, will extend to Northern Ireland.
Minister Lyons said:
"My opposition to eligibility restrictions on the Winter Fuel Payment (WFP) has been absolute, an opposition that I have consistently made known to Labour government ministers.
"I also wrote to the Prime Minister, along with my Executive colleagues, outlining our total opposition to the changes and calling on him to reinstate a universal Winter Fuel Payment that protects all pensioners.
"I welcome the u-turn announced today and I will be engaging with Executive colleagues to ensure similar support is provided in Northern Ireland."
The UK government announced changes to the Winter Fuel Payments last July with eligibility restricted to pensioners in receipt of Pension Credit and other means-tested benefits.
Minister Lyons continued:
"Following the decision to change Winter Fuel Payments criteria last year, I was able to secure Pound 17 million of Executive funding to make a one-off Pound 100 payment to local pensioners affected by the decision.
"My officials are engaging with colleagues in the Department for Work and Pensions to understand how the changes to the Winter Fuel payment announced today will be implemented, to ensure Northern Ireland is ready to follow suit."
