Devon MPs press chancellor to help pensioners through winter

Devon MPs are putting pressure on the government to think again before scrapping the winter fuel payment for hard-up local pensioners.

Liberal Democrats Steve Darling (Torbay) and Caroline Voaden (South Devon) both quizzed Labour chancellor Rachel Reeves during a Commons debate on financial support for pensioners.
The chancellor said pensioners most in need would continue to receive winter fuel payments alongside pension credit.
But Mr Darling said almost 90 per cent of pensioners across Devon and Cornwall would be affected by the cut, equating to around 21,000 people in Torbay.
He went on: “While many of us acknowledge that the chancellor was left with a massive financial challenge when she came into the post, I remain extremely concerned about the residents who have reached out to me and colleagues with their major concerns about making ends meet as we enter the winter period.
“They have had no time to save and it is a complete shock to them. What assurances can the chancellor give that the government will support those who are most vulnerable? If those measures fail, what assurances can she give that she will scrap the proposal?”
Ms Reeves told him that under the previous Conservative government, 800,000 pensioner households that were entitled to pension credit did not receive it, and the current government would encourage more people to claim.
“All local authorities, including those in Torbay, have been written to about how they can play their part in identifying those pensioners who are entitled to pension credit but are not getting it,” she said. 
Ms Voaden said the cuts to the winter fuel payment were quickly followed by news of a 10 per cent increase in the energy price cap.
South Devon, she said, had a higher-than-average number of pensioners, many of whom, particularly those in rural areas, were living in fuel poverty.
She said: “Many of my constituents are struggling to meet the cost of heating, but do not quite qualify for pension credit. They, and thousands of vulnerable people across the country are deeply anxious about what this winter has in store for them. Will the chancellor take this opportunity to spell out exactly how she plans to tackle fuel poverty among the elderly?”
And Ms Reeves again stressed that pension payments would be higher – and fuel bills lower – this winter. She also repeated calls for more people to claim the benefits they are due.
“We all need to play our part in ensuring that everybody gets the help they are entitled to,” she said.
“We should all ensure that our poorest pensioners get that support from both pension credit and the winter fuel payment associated with it.”