Northern Ireland is to follow suit and cut winter fuel payments to pensioners unless they are in certain benefits.
The move has been described as “regrettable” by Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, who said that it would not be possible to cover the costs and continue in the current form.
It was at the end of last month that Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that entitlement to winter fuel payments in England and Wales would be “restricted to those people receiving Pension Credit or other means-tested benefits only”.
It was a decision with which Minister Lyons said he “strongly disagreed”.
But today (Friday) he confirmed that Northern Ireland had no option but to follow suit, informing MLAs in a written Ministerial statement.
Said Minister Lyons: “The estimated additional cost to the Block Grant of maintaining universal entitlement to a winter fuel payment in Northern Ireland for winter 2024/25 is £44.3 million, and this does not include any additional delivery or staffing costs.
“Regrettably, there is no additional resource available in the budget to allow us to diverge from the UK Government decision without significantly cutting other public services.
“I have made clear to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions my total opposition to this decision and outlined the detrimental impact it will have on many people in Northern Ireland.
“I am committed to ensuring that people can access all the support to which they are entitled and would encourage anyone affected by these changes to check their benefit entitlement.
“My Department offers a free and confidential Make the Call Wraparound Service which puts people in touch with any benefits, supports and services to which they may be entitled.
“Pension Credit, in particular, can be a vital top-up for pensioners on low incomes and will be a determining factor for eligibility of the winter fuel payment.”
This free and confidential service is open to all and can be contacted by Freephone: 0800 232 1271 (Phone lines are open Monday to Friday from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm (excluding public holidays) or by Email: at makethecall@dfcni.gov.uk. Further details are available on NI Direct at https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/
The Northern Ireland Pension Centre’s Pension Credit Application Line can also be reached directly on 0808 100 6165 (open Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm), or by applying online at https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/
