AQO 779/22-27

Mr Mark Durkan
Social Democratic and Labour Party
Foyle

Tabled Date: 05/09/2024
Answered On Date: 16/09/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities to outline what measures he plans to put in place to financially support pensioners who will lose their Winter Fuel Payments as a result of changes to the scheme.

Answer:

I strongly disagree with, and I am totally opposed to the Labour Government’s decision to change the Winter Fuel Payment eligibility criteria and I am very concerned about the serious consequences this will have on the comfort, wellbeing and health of older people across Northern Ireland.

Given the Barnett consequential arising from the announcement on Monday 2 September 2024 by Work and Pensions Secretary, Liz Kendall MP, to extend the Household Support Fund in GB, my Department will be seeking funding to help struggling households with bills and essential costs over winter.

I want to ensure that any additional money allocated to the NI Block will be used to ensure that vulnerable older people in Northern Ireland receive assistance with essential costs this winter.

I am keen to explore, along with Executive colleagues, the option (with the help of DWP) of issuing a one-off hardship payment to those in receipt of state pension who will lose out on the Winter Fuel Payment this winter.

My officials are currently working with DWP counterparts to consider the legislative and operational implications of this approach. I will keep the Assembly informed about how we can best help in this regard.

In the meantime, it is extremely important that people ensure that they are receiving all of the benefits they are entitled to. I would therefore encourage everyone to check their entitlement to Pension Credit at their earliest opportunity.

This can be done by telephoning the Northern Ireland Pension Centre’s Pension Credit Application Line.

The Department’s unique Make the Call Wraparound Service puts people in touch with any benefits, supports and services to which they may be entitled, and I would also encourage people to get in touch with them.

My officials are also working on a Fuel Poverty Strategy that will provide a long-term framework for reducing fuel poverty, recognising that this will have positive impacts on both mental and physical health, especially for the most vulnerable in society.

The strategy will address issues such as improving energy efficiency in homes, a new fuel poverty energy efficiency scheme, how to support those living in or at risk of fuel poverty and ensure consumer protection.