Suffolk Community Foundation responds to winter fuel plan

On Monday, the new Chancellor Rachel Reeves revealed a government plan to restrict winter fuel payments to those only on pension credits or other means-tested benefits. 

Nationally, this policy is expected to reduce the number of pensioners in receipt of the payment by about 10million - from 11.4million to 1.5million - saving some £1.4billion this financial year.

The Suffolk Community Foundation has been running the Surviving Winter campaign for 13 years, each year raising more than £150,000 given as grants to families and older people who need support covering their fuel costs - which have sky-rocketed in recent years.

The launch of the Surviving Winter appeal in 2023 (Image: Eastern Education Group)

Anna Hughes, interim chief executive, said: "The stark fact is that an estimated one in seven people, which equates to 100,000 people, are now living in fuel poverty in Suffolk, a number which has doubled since 2019. 

"The need for support this winter will be as strong as ever, but the reality is that many families and older people might now not receive the help they desperately need.

"At the foundation we will to work with local organisations to do what we can to continue to support people in our communities."

Chiara Saunders, chief executive of Citizens Advice East Suffolk, said: "The decision to restrict the winter fuel allowance to pensioners on pension credit should ensure that the most financially vulnerable pensioners benefit, but there are pensioners who don't qualify for pension credit who struggle financially, and it is also estimated that four out of 10 eligible pensioners have not applied for pension credit.

Chiara Saunders (Image: Newsquest)

"Pensioners should check if they are eligible for pension credit by asking for a benefit check and anyone concerned about how they will pay for their winter fuel bills should approach their local Citizens Advice to see if there are eligible for other forms of support.

"Although it is sunny outside at the moment, people should be thinking ahead and preparing for the winter."

Speaking on Monday, Mrs Reeves said: "This is not a decision I wanted to make nor is it the one that I expected to make, but these are the necessary and urgent decisions that I must make."

Rachel Reeves speaking on Monday (Image: House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA Wire)

The government will continue to provide £200 to households receiving pension credit and £300 to those households with someone over the age of 80.

The Chancellor added that there would be an effort to maximise the take-up of pension credit by working with charities and local authorities.

The announcement was made as part of a spending inheritance statement delivered in parliament.

The announcement was made on Monday (Image: Yui Mok/PA)

Mrs Reeves said the government has inherited a projected overspend of £22billion from the previous Conservative administration. 

She also announced the previous government's plan for 40 new hospitals, including West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds, would go under complete review.