Hard cuts for Dorset pensioners - Government announces Winter Fuel Allowance is to be scrapped

Cllr Nick Ireland, Leader of Dorset Council, has responded to the news that the Winter Fuel Allowance is to be scrapped. He said: 

"Following the vote in Parliament today agreeing the changes to Winter Fuel Payment, I am concerned about the negative consequences for elderly and vulnerable residents here in Dorset.

"Dorset has the oldest demographic of any county in the UK; in 2021, 37.2% of our residents were aged over 60 and 29.6% aged over 65. With energy bills set to rise and the cost of living still so high, losing this vital support will hurt so many already in poverty. 

"The drive to increase the take up of Pension Credit, both nationally and locally, will help, but there will be a number of Dorset residents who, although do not meet the threshold for Pension Credit, continue to struggle financially in the current cost of living crisis and who will now be pushed further into financial difficulties, cutting back on essentials and eating less.  Many of our pensioners will simply not be able to afford to heat their homes this winter, and that is just plain wrong.

"As a council, we have already committed significant resources from our reserves to create a Dorset Council Cost of Living Fund. This will be put under increased pressure to provide additional support and funding to offset the impact of the loss of Winter Fuel Payments for Dorset residents.  

"The government’s changes will put significant pressure on the council’s budget at a time when council resources are already overstretched.  This will in turn put pressure on Dorset Council’s ability to fund and deliver vital public services across Dorset.  

"I am pleased to see the government has decided to extend the Household Support Fund over the coming months and as a council, we will continue to administer payments to those most in need on behalf of the government.

"I will continue to lobby government for fairer funding and have requested that government makes additional funding available to Dorset Council to support the increased financial assistance we will need to provide to residents to ensure they are not pushed into financial crisis or endure a winter without proper heating."