A Suffolk MP has spoken of his 'shock' at how many pensioners in his constituency will lose the winter fuel payment under a new government plan.
Previously, data revealed 155,366 Suffolk residents are set to stop receiving the payment as they will no longer be classed as eligible under new Labour plans to restrict it to those on pension credits or other means-tested benefits only.
Meanwhile, new data from the Department for Work & Pensions has revealed the number of people who received the payment last winter in each constituency, with 26,808 in Suffolk Coastal, 25,083 in Waveney Valley and 23,632 in South Suffolk.
Lowestoft saw 23,576 receive the payment, while Bury St Edmunds & Stowmarket had 22,701, Suffolk West had 21,622, Suffolk Central & North Ipswich had 21,391 and Ipswich had 17,384.
Speaking of the restriction to the payment, James Cartlidge, Conservative MP for South Suffolk, said: "I am shocked to hear that the number of people who will lose winter fuel support in South Suffolk is so high, and at over 20,000 is one of the worst affected constituencies.
"This will include thousands of pensioners who have very modest earnings and will now be hit really hard, just as energy prices are rising. Many will also have heating oil which involves substantial one-off payments that the WFA would have previously covered to a significant degree."
Mr Cartlidge continued: "Incredibly, Labour justify this pain on the need to ‘stabilise the economy’. Yet the OECD has just revised upwards UK growth for this year, confirming Labour inherited an economy outperforming Germany, Italy, and Japan.
"Let’s not forget if the deficit Labour inherited from us had been the same size relative to the economy as the massive one they left us in 2010, it would be £160bn bigger.
"The fact is this cut is a choice, to fund Labour’s priority of huge pay rises for train drivers and their union paymasters, all offered without anything in return, threatening the very inflation which caused the previous cost of living crisis - and which we dealt with, getting inflation back to target, not least by pay discipline and making choices in the national interest."
Meanwhile, Labour MP for Suffolk Coastal Jenny Riddell-Carpenter, said: “I know that although the new Government’s drive and determination to improve our economy and invest in our core services is right, it doesn’t make it easy - and this news has been a real concern and worry for many.
"I’ve had a number of difficult conversations over the past few weeks since the announcement, and I’m determined to help any who are eligible for support.
"I’ve put on extra dedicated Winter Fuel Allowance surgeries – that will be taking place over the coming months, both in person and over the phone.
"I’m also made available extra dedicated resource to help those who are eligible apply for Pension Credit, including providing help with filling in the forms, and helping people access support that they are entitled to.
"I’ll also be working with local housing associations, Citizens Advice and other local groups to make sure that support is available to those who need it.”
Waveney Valley MP Adrian Ramsey (Green Party) said: "I'm deeply concerned about the impact on my constituents of the government removing the winter fuel payment.
"This is going to affect pensioners on low incomes - including those just on the state pension, and there are many pensioners in Waveney Valley.
"I've received lots of concerned message including from one couple who said they now won't be able to have their heating on at all this winter.
"I will continue to press the government to rethink this policy."
Nationally, the policy is expected to reduce the number of pensioners in receipt of the payment by about 10million - from 11.4million to 1.5million - saving some £1.4billion this financial year.
The government will continue to provide £200 to households receiving pension credit and £300 where those households include someone over the age of 80.
The announcement was made as part of a spending inheritance statement delivered in parliament.
It came as Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the government had inherited a projected overspend of £22billion from the previous Conservative administration.
She added that there would be an effort to maximise the take-up of pension credit by working with charities and local authorities.
Published by the East Anglian Daily Times.
