- Over 11 million pensioners across the country will receive an extra £300 as part of their annual Winter Fuel Payment this month as part of the Conservative Government’s £49 billion package of cost of living support.
- This is in addition to the news that the Conservative Government has protected the State Pension Triple Lock.
- Payments will be paid automatically with the annual Winter Fuel Payment, with no need for those who already receive the payment to apply for the uplift.
Cllr David Hall welcomes that 70,988 pensioners in Kirklees will receive an additional £300 as the Conservative Government’s Pensioner Cost of Living Payments begin to be sent out today (23 November).
These payments will be made directly to over 11 million pensioners in receipt of the Winter Fuel Payment, demonstrating the Conservative Government’s commitment to supporting pensioners with rising costs through the winter.
In addition to this £300 uplift to the Winter Fuel Payment for pensioners, the Energy Price Guarantee will help to keep household energy bills as low as possible – saving the typical household £900 this winter. Every household is also benefitting from a £400 grant, automatically deducted from their energy bills, as the Conservative Government takes real action to help people with the cost of living.
Commenting, Cllr David Hall said:
Pensioners across Kirklees are facing rising living costs due to Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine, so it is vital that we take real action to support them.
I welcome the news that 70,988 pensioners in Kirklees will be receiving the Conservative Government’s £300 Pensioner Cost of Living Payment as part of their annual Winter Fuel Payment, as well as the news that the Triple Lock is being protected.
This will give pensioners much-needed support this winter and protect the most vulnerable in the face of rising prices.
Commenting, Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride said:
We know the pressures pensioners across the country are facing which is why we’re providing all pensioner households with an additional £300 on top of their Winter Fuel Payments to heat their homes and stay warm this winter.
This extra payment is just one part of the wider support package the Government is delivering to help with rising bills, including the biggest State Pension increase in history.
We will continue to support the most vulnerable as we deal with the impact of Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine and the aftermath of the pandemic – as demonstrated by the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement announcement of additional help to follow next year.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
- The Conservative Government is protecting the State Pension Triple Lock and uprating benefits in line with inflation, delivering the biggest State Pension increase in history. The State Pension and other benefits will rise by 10.1 per cent next April following the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s announcement that pensions and benefits will rise with inflation (HMT, Autumn Statement 2022, 17 November 2022, link).
- The Conservative Government are providing pensioners in receipt of the Winter Fuel Payment with a £300 Cost of Living Payment this year, helping them to heat their homes. Pensioners will receive a £300 Cost of Living Payment as part of their Winter Fuel Payment this year and they will receive a further payment of £300 in 2023 (DWP, Guidance, 8 November 2022, link; HMT, Autumn Statement 2022, 17 November 2022, link).
- The Conservative Government have introduced the Energy Price Guarantee to keep bills as low as possible, giving all households across the UK certainty on energy prices. This Guarantee will help to keep household energy bills as low as possible – saving the typical household £700 this winter. This will be done by limiting the amount people can be charged per unit of gas or electricity until April 2023 (PMO, Press Release, 8 September 2022, link).
- The Conservative Government have provided households in receipt of means tested benefits with £650 in Cost of Living Payments this year, targeting support at the most in need. Households in receipt of means tested benefits including Universal Credit and Pension Credit will receive £650 in Cost of Living Payments this year and a further payment of £900 in 2023 (DWP, Guidance, 20 October 2022, link; HMT, Autumn Statement 2022, 17 November 2022, link).
- The Conservative Government are delivering the existing cost of living support schemes in full, supporting people through the months ahead. The Energy Price Guarantee is in addition to the £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme households will benefit from. The most vulnerable UK households will also continue to receive the already announced £1,200 of support, provided in instalments over the year (PMO, Oral Statement, 8 September 2022, link).
