DWP Drive To Boost Pensions Credit Take Up Is Unlikely To Avert Fuel Poverty Rise, Warn Charities

A new push by the Labour Government to make sure pensioners do not miss out on financial support they are entitled to is unlikely to avert a rise in fuel poverty, stakeholders have warned.

Age UK and the End Fuel Poverty Coalition also criticised ministers for failing to consult with them on their recent decision to scrap universal Winter Fuel Allowance.

Last month, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that the Winter Fuel Payment would be moving to a means-tested arrangement. As a result, only those claiming means tested benefits like pension credit will be eligible. Previously, it was available to all pensioners.

Reeves said the decision was not one she "wanted" to make, but one that was needed to help plug a £22bn "black hole" which she accused the previous Tory government of leaving in the public finances before being removed from power.

The move worried a number of of Labour MPs who as PoliticsHome reported, met with Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones to voice their concerns.

The Department for Work and Pensions has this week launched a publicly campaign to ensure that pensioners on the lowest incomes don't miss out on financial support this winter. It is estimated around 800,000 pensioners on low incomes who are eligible for pension credit currently do not claim it, and therefore face losing their Winter Fuel Payment.

However, Age UK has warned that while it welcomes the effort to boost awarness, it is unlikely to "be enough" to avert a rise in fuel poverty in the coming months. 

"It's great that they're doing [a pension credit uptake campaign], we really welcome it — we're going to do everything we can to support it," Caroline Abrahams, director of Age UK, told PoliticsHome.

"But history suggests that it's not