Edinburgh widow 'scared' after missing out on winter fuel payment by £3

Key Points

The winter fuel payment of up to £300 was brought in to help older people with their heating bills
Previously, the payment was a universal benefit paid to all pensioners regardless of wealth
Now the allowance will be limited to only those claiming pension credit or other means-tested benefits

A widow says she’s scared about the weather turning colder this year after learning that her pension income puts her just a few pounds over the threshold to qualify for the winter fuel allowance.

June Whitelaw, who has the progressive lung disease COPD, will no longer receive the benefit after the Scottish Government said it had to follow new plans brought in by the Labour government at Westminster.

MPs voted 348 to 228 on Tuesday to axe the payment for all but the country’s poorest pensioners, rejecting a Tory bid for the controversial policy to be blocked.

Only those already on benefits will continue to receive the support, with nearly a million pensioners in Scotland missing out.

Among them is 73-year-old June from Edinburgh.

“I’m afraid with the cold winter, as I’ve got COPD, I’ve got to keep it to a certain temperature, otherwise I’m even worse off,” she told STV News.

“That’s what frightens me with the winter coming and not getting the help, to even put the heating on for an hour to have something to eat.

“I get the state pension, I’ve got my husband’s pension and I’ve got a small work pension and that’s it. I was watching the television this morning with Martin Lewis and he said ‘phone this number’ (to apply for pension credit).

“I phoned up and gave all my details but they said I’m not entitled.

“It feels frustrating because I don’t understand. The threshold should be lifted. I’m not the only one, a few of my friends are just 65p over and they won’t get it. I can’t comprehend how it works.”

Previously, the winter fuel payment was a universal benefit, meaning it was paid to all pensioners, regardless of their income or wealth.

However, under the new rules, the allowance will be limited to only those claiming pension credit or other means-tested benefits.

It is expected to cut the number of people receiving the payment of up to £300 by ten million, from 11.4 million to 1.5 million, which the UK Government hopes will save about £1.4bn this year.

“If they were to lift the threshold due to the cost of living then quite a few would be entitled to it,” said June.

“I’m from the generation if I have a day without, I don’t go asking for it. Whatever I’ve had, I’ve worked for it and it’s so annoying and frustrating that it’s come to this. I’m not begging for it, I refuse to beg for it.

“If I want to buy anything I try to save up and then I’ll buy it. But now I won’t be able to because I can’t save anything because everything is getting paid out.

“I’m wearing a thick cardigan just now as it saves me putting the heating on, so I’m not using it as much, trying to keep it down.”

The Scottish Government announced last month it will stop providing all pensioners in Scotland with a universal winter fuel payment after the UK announced cuts to funding.

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In July, UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves said those not in receipt of pension credit or other means-tested benefits south of the border will no longer receive the winter fuel payment from this year onwards.

Scotland’s social justice secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said the change left the Scottish Government with “no alternative but to replicate the decision”.

Responsibility for the winter fuel payment was already set to be transferred to the Scottish Government this year, with it funded from the 2024-25 Scottish Budget.

UK Government ministers insist the measure is necessary in order to fill a “£22bn black hole” in the public finances which they say was left behind by their Tory predecessors.

On Tuesday, Keir Starmer saw off a Labour rebellion in a vote brought by the Tories to try and block the policy.

Are you eligible for pension credit?

You must live in England, Scotland or Wales and have reached state pension age to qualify for pension credit.

When you apply for pension credit your income is calculated. If you have a partner, your income is calculated together.

Pension Credit tops up:

your weekly income to £218.15 if you’re single
your joint weekly income to £332.95 if you have a partner

If your income is higher, you might still be eligible for Pension Credit if you have a disability, you care for someone, you have savings or you have housing costs.

What counts as income

Your income includes:

State Pension
other pensions
earnings from employment and self-employment
most social security benefits, for example Carer’s Allowance

What does not count as income

Not all benefits are counted as income. For example, the following are not counted:

Adult Disability Payment
Attendance Allowance
Christmas Bonus
Child Benefit
Disability Living Allowance
Personal Independence Payment
social fund payments like Winter Fuel Allowance
Housing Benefit
Council Tax Reduction
If you have £10,000 or less in savings and investments this will not affect your pension credit
If you have more than £10,000, every £500 over £10,000 counts as £1 income a week. For example, if you have £11,000 in savings, this counts as £2 income a week