New Work And Pensions Committee Chair To Prioritise Impact Of Winter Fuel Payment Cut

The new chair of the work and pensions committee has said there is a "pressing" need to assess the impact of the winter fuel payment cut, particularly on disabled people.

Debbie Abrahams, the Labour MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, was elected chair of the cross-party committee last week. She replaces Stephen Timms, who is now a minister at the Department for Work and Pensions.

Speaking to PoliticsHome, she said the removal of the universality of winter fuel payments for pensioners was one of the issues her committee planned to prioritise. She described the subject, particularly how it will affect disable pensioners, as "one that is quite pressing".

"We had the impact assessment from the Government that suggests that it is about 70 per cent of disabled pensioners who won't be eligible for pension credit," said Abrahams, who was formerly shadow work and pensions secretary and shadow minister for disabled people.

"Disabled people, as a whole, over the last 14 years or so have really borne the brunt of austerity and cuts in support from the state, and I am very concerned that this will leave many disabled people in an even worse position than they have been in the in the past as well.

"We need to properly understand the impacts of all the Government programmes on disabled people."

She added: "I would be surprised if members don't have a view on that in terms of what we should be doing about that."

In July, the new Government announced its plan to make winter fuel payments for pensioners means-tested on whether or not they qualify for the benefit pension credit. Labour's large majority meant it comfortably cleared the House of Commons in a vote last week, despite strong opposition from the Tories and other political parties.

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