The Chancellor’s announcement that she would end the universal winter fuel allowance for older people triggered a huge spike in pension credit applications in Northern Ireland.
They jumped by 75% after Rachel Reeves’ move to cease the payment in many cases last summer.
In late July, the Government said winter fuel payments — which previously went to all pensioners — would be means-tested.
It was stipulated that from the autumn, those not on pension credit or other means-tested benefits would no longer get the annual payments, worth between £100 and £300, depending on the individual’s circumstances.
It has now emerged this decision led to thousands of pensioners here applying for pension credit, indicating they feared missing out on the winter fuel payment.
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Figures obtained via a Freedom of Information request show that, from Ms Reeves’ announcement until December 19, there were 5,840 pension credit applications.
This represents a 75% increase from the same period the previous year, when there were 3,337 applications.
It is estimated some 26,300 families could be entitled to pension credit but not receiving it, while around £1.1m in pension credit goes unclaimed each week.
Pension credit provides extra financial support to help those over the state pension age and on a low income with their living costs.
In a bid to help some of those affected by the cuts to winter fuel support, Mr Lyons announced in November they would get a one-off £100 payment from Stormont.
Eddie Lynch, Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland said at the time this “clearly isn’t enough”, as people would have previously been getting between £200 and £300 in many cases.
It is estimated that 249,000 older people here have been impacted by the cuts to the winter fuel payment.
SDLP MLA Daniel McCrossan said the significant rise in pension credit applications shows how badly impacted older people were by the removal of the winter fuel payment.
“The payment was an important lifeline for many, alleviating the pressure and large bills that come with heating their homes during winter,” he said.
“The Executive was not forced to implement this cut here. Alongside others, we urged them not to, but they went ahead anyway. When we asked them to introduce mitigations to properly support people they introduced a one-off £100 payment to replace a regular £300 annual payment.”
Mr McCrossan added that, despite the rise in pension credit applications, “the vast majority of pensioners have lost out”.
“The impact of that failure will now be felt by older people across the North who are struggling to keep the heating on, especially during the very cold weather snap we are currently experiencing,” he said.
News Catch Up – Wednesday 8 January