Liberal Democrats Call for Action as Southwark Pensioners Lose Fuel Payments by just £3 a week

Southwark Liberal Democrats have written to council bosses to demand that it steps up where the Labour Government has failed over winter fuel payments. They are calling for the council to extend the Cost of Living Fund to offer a replacement Winter Fuel Payment to those who only just miss out on qualifying for pension credit.

This comes as Stockton Council unanimously condemned the cuts, and suggestions are being made elsewhere for local authorities to step in to prevent pensioners being plunged into fuel poverty.

Recent data shows that 85% of pensioners in absolute poverty will lose the payment nationally. Across the 5 Southwark constituencies, around 30,000 pensioners are set to lose the payment.

The 5 Labour MPs who cover Southwark all voted the change through in Parliament.

Speaking to the Liberal Democrats, a pensioner in Southwark who wishes to remain anonymous told her story.

After working for the NHS as a nurse, she is now in receipt of a pension worth £221. The cut-off for pension credit is £218.15. This means that she will no longer receive the winter fuel payment. Describing how she feels about the change, she said she was “fuming”, and would have to significantly cut back her spending to make the difference up, and will struggle to keep up with fuel costs over winter.

“I’ve been working since I was 18, serving the country as a nurse in the NHS. And now they’re taking away these fuel payments over just £3. It’s insulting really.

She added “I’m going to have to really cut back on spending, or ask for help from family, but I can’t do that without losing my independence”.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Leader Cllr Victor Chamberlain said:

“We’re calling on Southwark Council to do the right thing by our pensioners. Our Labour MPs and government have already let them down, but we can show that Southwark cares about its vulnerable elderly people this winter, by offering its own, targeted, fuel payment scheme.

Stories like we’ve heard only underline the human impact of the decisions this government is making, it’s just not fair, and we need the council to step up to make it right”