Inverclyde Council to give elderly and vulnerable residents £200 for winter heating

Hundreds of elderly and vulnerable residents in Inverclyde will be given a one-off payment in a bid to tackle fuel poverty.

It comes after the universal winter fuel payment was cut across the UK – in a move forecast to push thousands of pensioners into poverty.

The £200 payment was once available to all seniors, but it will now only be made to those receiving pension credit or other means-tested benefits.

UK & International

Winter fuel payments cut could drive 100,000 pensioners into poverty

Internal government modelling shows it’s controversial policy to means test Winter Fuel Payments could drive between 50 and 100,000 pensioners into poverty.

However, councillors in Inverclyde approved proposals to provide a £200 payment to eligible older people with low incomes on Tuesday.

The money will come from a new £600,000 fuel poverty fund over the next two years.

Payments will be available to older residents who already receive certain benefits and will come off Council Tax bills.

Depute council leader Natasha McGuire, who chaired the policy and resources committee, said: “With temperatures plummeting this week, this is a timely intervention to help older people during the harsh winter months and put some money back in their pockets.

“We have a proud record as a council of supporting the most vulnerable in society and in recent times have provided the likes of a one-off cost of living grant and established the Warm Hand of Friendship initiative, which has been extended for another three years.

“This new fuel poverty fund is another example of our commitment to helping those who need it the most during challenging times and enhancing our reputation as a caring and compassionate place for all.”

The local authority will use Council Tax Reduction and Housing Benefit records to identify pension age households that are not in receipt of one of the seven qualifying benefits.

Eligible residents will be contacted over the coming days.

The council hopes to provide the first payment before Christmas, which will reduce Council Tax instalments for the remainder of 2024/25 and free up household income to meet fuel bills.

The fund will also support pension-age households who will not receive the government pension-age winter fuel payment and who are exempt from paying Council tax due to all members of the household being categorised as ‘severely mentally impaired’.

The Pension Age Fuel Poverty Payment is for winter 2024 only, but the proposal will be reviewed along with other available supports in the run-up to winter 2025.