Plaid calls debate on scrapping Winter Fuel Allowance for pensioners in poverty

Wrexham Council will debate a Plaid Cymru motion on the scrapping of the Winter Fuel Allowance for all but 1.5 million pensioners at its next council meeting on September 25.

The motion, submitted by all seven Plaid Cymru councillors, states that almost a third of households in Wales will be impacted by the UK Labour Government's decision to cut the Winter Fuel Allowance for all but those on Pension Credits.

It goes on: "Limiting the Winter Fuel Allowance to those on pension credit will mean that the vast majority of pensioners currently living below the poverty line will lose out. It's estimated that 80,000 pensioners eligible for Pension Credits in Wales are not currently taking up that benefit. Taking away this critical payment of up to £300 annually is directly putting at risk pensioners' ability to heat their homes this winter.

"The 'End Fuel Poverty Coalition' have estimated that 4,950 excess winter deaths in the UK were caused by living in cold homes during winter 2022/23.

"With energy bills set to rise by an additional £149 this October and possibly further in January, the decision to cut this payment for such a vulnerable group is unacceptable and will have a detrimental impact on the health and well-being of a significant number of households in our borough."

The motion calls for the council to "condemn the recent decision by the UK Labour Government to cut the Winter Fuel Allowance" and "to halt the proposed cuts with a view to ensuring the most vulnerable in our society are not put at risk due to the loss of this critical payment."