Welwyn Hatfield pension credit campaign after winter fuel payment vote

It comes after the government announced the winter fuel allowance, currently paid automatically to all pensioners, will now be paid only to those receiving benefits such as pension credit.

Cllr Max Holloway (Lab, Howlands) made the comments at a full council meeting on Wednesday (September 18).

The leader of the Labour-Liberal Democrat joint administration also backed a motion instructing him to write to Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, “urging a review of the decision to means-test the winter fuel payment”.

Cllr Holloway said: “This administration will always put the interests of the people of Welwyn Hatfield before the interests of the front benches of Westminster.”

Responding to a question from Cllr Duncan Jones (LD, Peartree), Cllr Holloway said a council “awareness campaign” is under way “to maximise the uptake of pension credit” and will continue “throughout the winter”.

Cllr Max Holloway (Image: Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council)

It will include a “call to action” in the next issue of One magazine, a council publication delivered to all Welwyn Hatfield households, and communication on social media and with council tenants.

The council will also work with voluntary organisations such as Citizens Advice, and encourage uptake of pension credit through its events programme.

According to government figures, around 780,000 pensioners across England and Wales are set to lose their winter fuel allowance because, while they are eligible for pension credit, they have not applied for it.

Cllr Holloway said the government “have very little choice but to make some very tough and painful decisions”, repeating Rachel Reeves’ claim that the Conservative government left “a “£22bn black hole in public finances”.

Councillors at Wednesday’s meeting debated a motion brought forward by Cllr Tony Kingsbury (Welwyn West), leader of the Conservative group.

Cllr Tony Kingsbury (Image: Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council)

He called on the council to “conduct a local impact assessment” of the effects of the change, which would “include budget considerations for any support that could be offered in future years”.

But an amendment put forward by the joint administration removed the proposal, with Cllr Holloway saying it would have required “a deferral while a costing exercise was completed”.

“It’s really important we express the views of this council to the chancellor as quickly as possible,” he added.

Cllr Kingsbury said the changes to the payment would have “devastating consequences for some of the most vulnerable members of our community”. He said 14,800 Welwyn Hatfield residents would be affected.

Cllr Kingsbury continued: “The winter fuel allowance isn’t just a government handout – it’s a lifeline.

“For many elderly people, it means the difference between living in warmth and safety, or enduring cold, uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous conditions.”

He raised concerns about cold homes leading to serious health issues, and warned of a knock-on impact on “already overstretched” health services leading to higher costs.

However, Cllr Kingsbury and the Conservative group voted against the motion after Labour’s amendment had been accepted.

The Conservative group leader said the amendment “introduced political point-scoring”.

“We should be concentrating on practical, actionable solutions that directly benefit pensioners in Welwyn Hatfield, rather than advocating for national measures we have no control over.” The amended motion included a suggestion that the government implement a wealth tax on the “country’s richest one per cent”.

And, while he voted against the amended motion, Cllr Kingsbury said: “I’m pleased to see that most of the administration are not actually supporting what the government’s done … so I think we’re on the same page on that in general.”

Cllr Lucy Musk (Lab, Haldens), said she “fundamentally disagrees” with the removal of the universal winter fuel allowance”, and suggested the government could tax “the highest earners in this country” instead.

But Cllr Sunny Thusu (Con, Welwyn West) said the decision was “austerity” and noted Labour representatives were “very unhappy about [austerity] when the Conservatives did it”. He added the Conservatives had “protected” the winter fuel allowance in government.

Cllr Julie Cragg (Con, Welwyn East) expressed concern that the council would have to “deal with mouldy houses” as a result of people being unable to heat their homes adequately.

However, Cllr Kieran Thorpe (Lab, Hatfield Central) suggested Conservative members had not raised similar concerns when their party had been in power at the council and in government.

He said: “Too many of our residents have mouldy homes now. Too many of our residents are already in fuel poverty. Too many of our residents already choose between heating and eating, and have done for years.”