Agenda item
Notice of Motion - Pensioners' Winter Fuel Allowance
Council notes the recent announcement by the Labour Government to end universal winter fuel payments and restrict eligibility to only those in receipt of Pension Credits and other benefits.
Council is deeply concerned that many pensioners on lower and middle incomes will now not receive the payments. Across England and Wales the number of people eligible for winter fuel payments will fall by nearly 10 million (from 11.4 million to only 1.5 million). Many of these less well off pensioners will end up worse off than pensioners in receipt of pension credit as a result of this cruel policy. Council is shocked that Labour Ministers are so out of touch so soon after securing a huge majority in the House of Commons, that they would propose such a policy that will force many Manchester pensioners to choose between eating and heating this winter.
Council further notes with concern the vote in the House of Commons, where Labour MPs voted to support the removal of the winter fuel allowance, with only 1 Labour MP in Parliament voted against the Government. Council condemns former Manchester Labour Councillors, and current Manchester Labour MPs, Jeff Smith, Mike Kane, Afzal Khan and Graham Stringer along with Manchester Labour MPs Lucy Powell and Andrew Gwynne, who all voted in favour of making pensioners cold this winter, and recognises that the only 2 MPs in Greater Manchester to vote against Labour's plans, were the Liberal Democrat MPs for Cheadle and Hazel Grove.
Council believes that the Labour Government has set the threshold at which pensioners do not qualify for Winter Fuel Payments far too low. Only those receiving a pension of less than £218.15 a week (or £332.95 a week for couples) are eligible for pension credits. This is significantly lower than the living wage rate.
Council is also concerned by the low take up of pension credit with only 63% of those eligible nationwide receiving them – and over 880,000 pensioners not doing so. Council recognises the role we have to play to increase awareness of benefits such as Pension Credit to ensure people are aware of the support they are entitled to.
Council further notes that the Energy Price Cap is due to rise by 10% in October, which combined by the removal of Winter Fuel Payments, will push thousands of local pensioners into fuel poverty.
Council also notes with concern that the new Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister have both failed to rule out the possibility of the Labour Government scrapping the 25% Council Tax discount available to single occupiers, and recognises that were the Government to choose to make Council Tax even more regressive, by scrapping the single person discount, there will be a large number of pensioners hit by Labour's double whammy pensioner tax.
Council resolves to:
(1) Instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer calling for the policy on linking Winter Fuel Payments to Pension Credit receipt to be immediately scrapped.
(2) Request that the Chief Executive write to all MPs in Manchester asking them to abandon their support for the Labour Government's decision to remove the winter fuel allowance for most pensioners, and instead, give their formal support to halting the changes to the Winter Fuel Payment eligibility.
(3) Request all group leaders in Manchester sign a joint letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer calling for the new Winter Fuel Payment policy to be suspended and reviewed.
(4) Recommend to the Executive that the Council urgently commence a significant awareness campaign to maximise uptake of pension credits. This will include use of council noticeboards, social media, promotion in local press and also targeted letters to those who may be eligible.
Proposed by Cllr Leech, seconded by Cllr Johnson and supported by Cllrs Nunney, Kilpatrick, Northwood, Sarwar and Wiest
Minutes:
Councillor Leech submitted the following motion, which was seconded by Councillor Northwood:-
Council notes the recent announcement by the Labour Government to end universal winter fuel payments and restrict eligibility to only those in receipt of Pension Credits and other benefits.
Council is deeply concerned that many pensioners on lower and middle incomes will now not receive the payments. Across England and Wales the number of people eligible for winter fuel payments will fall by nearly 10 million (from 11.4 million to only 1.5 million). Many of these less well off pensioners will end up worse off than pensioners in receipt of pension credit as a result of this cruel policy. Council is shocked that Labour Ministers are so out of touch so soon after securing a huge majority in the House of Commons, that they would propose such a policy that will force many Manchester pensioners to choose between eating and heating this winter.
Council further notes with concern the vote in the House of Commons, where Labour MPs voted to support the removal of the winter fuel allowance, with only 1 Labour MP in Parliament voted against the Government. Council condemns former Manchester Labour Councillors, and current Manchester Labour MPs, Jeff Smith, Mike Kane, Afzal Khan and Graham Stringer along with Manchester Labour MPs Lucy Powell and Andrew Gwynne, who all voted in favour of making pensioners cold this winter, and recognises that the only 2 MPs in Greater Manchester to vote against Labour's plans, were the Liberal Democrat MPs for Cheadle and Hazel Grove.
Council believes that the Labour Government has set the threshold at which pensioners do not qualify for Winter Fuel Payments far too low. Only those receiving a pension of less than £218.15 a week (or £332.95 a week for couples) are eligible for pension credits. This is significantly lower than the living wage rate.
Council is also concerned by the low take up of pension credit with only 63% of those eligible nationwide receiving them – and over 880,000 pensioners not doing so. Council recognises the role we have to play to increase awareness of benefits such as Pension Credit to ensure people are aware of the support they are entitled to.
Council further notes that the Energy Price Cap is due to rise by 10% in October, which combined by the removal of Winter Fuel Payments, will push thousands of local pensioners into fuel poverty.
Council also notes with concern that the new Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister have both failed to rule out the possibility of the Labour Government scrapping the 25% Council Tax discount available to single occupiers, and recognises that were the Government to choose to make Council Tax even more regressive, by scrapping the single person discount, there will be a large number of pensioners hit by Labour's double whammy pensioner tax.
Council resolves to:
· Instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer calling for the policy on linking Winter Fuel Payments to Pension Credit receipt to be immediately scrapped.
· Request that the Chief Executive write to all MPs in Manchester asking them to abandon their support for the Labour Government's decision to remove the winter fuel allowance for most pensioners, and instead, give their formal support to halting the changes to the Winter Fuel Payment eligibility.
· Request all group leaders in Manchester sign a joint letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer calling for the new Winter Fuel Payment policy to be suspended and reviewed.
· Recommend to the Executive that the Council urgently commence a significant awareness campaign to maximise uptake of pension credits. This will include use of council noticeboards, social media, promotion in local press and also targeted letters to those who may be eligible.
On the motion being put to the vote the Lod Mayor declared it lost.
(Councillor Abdullatif declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in the item and left the meeting and took no part in the consideration or vote.)