Lib Dems lodge Parliamentary bid to protect 46,000 pensioners in Sunderland from Winter Fuel Payment cut

Liberal Democrats are attempting to block the Government’s cut to Winter Fuel Payments for local pensioners after it was revealed around 46,000 pensioners in Sunderland will miss out.

Wearside Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government to re-think the cuts to Winter Fuel Payments so that local vulnerable pensioners continue to get the support they need.

It comes as new analysis from the House of Commons Library shows an estimated 46,835 pensioners across the three parliamentary constituencies covering Sunderland, Washington and Houghton-le-Spring are at risk of losing the £300 payment this winter.

This is the estimated number of pensioners in the city who don't receive pension credit, and so will lose the winter fuel allowance under the government’s plans unless they receive other benefits. The figures were compiled by the House of Commons Library based on data from the Department of Work and Pensions.

The party are lodging a motion in Parliament to block government plans to scrap Winter Fuel Payments for most pensioners. 

If passed, the Liberal Democrat motion would protect local pensioners by blocking the government’s changes and restoring their winter fuel payments. It is set to be tabled as soon as Parliament returns next week and has been backed by all 72 Liberal Democrat MPs.

Across the country, 11 million pensioners are set to lose their winter fuel payment under the government’s plans, including two million that the charity Age UK has said will struggle to afford their energy bills as a result. This is despite the average energy bill being set to rise by £149 a year from October.

The Liberal Democrats are urging the government to think again to protect poorer and more vulnerable pensioners from being forced to choose between eating and heating this winter.

Commenting, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats opposition on Sunderland City Council Heather Fagan said:

“I’ve heard from countless pensioners across the city worried about losing this vital support and how they will afford their energy bills this winter. 

“Stripping support from many of the poorest pensioners on Wearside just when energy bills are set to rise again is simply wrong. It could force vulnerable elderly people in our community to choose between eating and heating this winter.

“That is why Sunderland’s Lib Dem councillors are working hand in hand with our MPs in Parliament to do everything we can to block these plans as soon as Parliament returns next week.

“Of course millionaires don’t need the Winter Fuel Payment but this callous Labour government urgently needs to rethink the cut to make sure that poorer and vulnerable pensioners just above the Pension Credit threshold in our city continue to get the support they so desperately need.”