State pensioners new call to claim £3,900 after winter fuel payment axe

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has dismissed any "tension" between plans to limit Winter Fuel Payments to the poorest pensioners and an increase in older people claiming Pension Credit. Winter Fuel Payments, worth up to £300 annually, will now only be issued to older individuals receiving means-tested benefits such as Pension Credit, Tax Credits (with an annual award of over £26) or Universal Credit (for mixed age couples), as announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in July.

This change will affect over 10 million, saving the public purse around £1.5 billion a year. Despite potential savings falling as more people apply for Pension Credit, Ms Kendall expressed her comfort with this during her appearance before the cross-party Work and Pensions Committee on Wednesday.

She told the group of MPs that she aims for a 100% take-up of Pension Credit "regardless" of its impact on the Government's efforts to address public finance issues. She stated: "I would like every pensioner who is entitled to Pension Credit, up to £3,900, to get it, yes."

When asked if this would be the case regardless of costs to the Government, she added: "Regardless, because they are entitled to it. That is what I want to see."

When questioned about possible tensions within the government on the issue, Ms Kendall responded: "For me there is no tension because I think it is a scandal that over 800,000 pensioners, the poorest pensioners, are losing up to £3,900 in Pension Credit that they should be entitled to.", reports the Daily Record.

Additionally, she alluded to potential changes in how Pension Credit is accessed, telling MPs: " People don't want to claim, they feel a stigma or are ashamed of claiming. The Pension Credit form is very long."

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