Stormont’s communities minister has confirmed that a one-off fuel support payment for pensioner households in NI will begin appearing in bank accounts next week.
Those who no longer qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment following eligibility changes introduced by the Labour Government are set to receive £100.
Gordon Lyons announced the payments will be issued from next Friday, March 21 and will automatically appear in recipients accounts without the need for an application.
“Following the unexpected and unwelcome news last July that 180,000 pensioner households in Northern Ireland would no longer be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment, I moved to secure Executive funding to mitigate the impact of the decision,” he said.
“Having tasked my officials to prepare the legislative and operational groundwork to enable this payment to be made as quickly as possible, I can announce that the money will be in people’s accounts ahead of the expected end-of-March date and will begin arriving from Friday 21 March.
“Whilst I realise the payment will not fully cover the impact of changes to the Winter Fuel Payment, I hope it will go some way to supporting those affected.”
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The DUP minister said the payments are only possible because he secured £17m of Executive funding to help an estimated 250,000 pensioners in around 180,000 households set to lose out as a result of means-testing the Winter Fuel Payment.
The criteria for receiving the Pension Age Fuel Support Payment will be the same as previously used for Winter Fuel Payment.
Two qualifying individuals in the same pensioner household will each receive £50.
Eligibility criteria for care home residents will also apply with more information on available on the NI Direct website.
“As Minister for Communities I have stated my determination to ensure that those who are most in need are supported. The Pension Age Fuel Support payment is testament to that commitment,” Mr Lyons said.
“Whilst the budgetary situation is challenging for all, I will take whatever actions possible to direct resources to where they are most needed.
“I would also encourage people to avail of my Department’s Make the Call service which can put people in touch with benefits and supports to which they are entitled but not receiving. Pension Credit in particular can provide access to a range of supports.
“This is especially important to our older generations so I would encourage everyone to ‘make the call’.”
Pensioners must have been born before 23 September 1958 in the qualifying week (Monday 16 September to Sunday 22 September 2024) to be eligible for the one-off £100 payment.