Harkin: Callous Winter Fuel Payment Cut Will Punish Thousands of Struggling Pensioners

Tories are gone but austerity as a political choice from Westminster and Stormont continues. There's money for war and corporate handouts but nothing to address deprivation. 

People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin said: "There's no doubt the decision by the Stormont Executive to end universal access to Winter Fuel Payments will hurt many thousands of struggling pensioners in Derry and across the North.

"It's well documented we have higher levels of fuel poverty so the impact here will be disproportionate.

"By making access to the Winter Fuel Payment dependent on receipt of Pension Credit or means tested benefits the Executive has ensured many in need of this support will lose out. 

"This includes more than 26,000 pensioners across the North who don't receive Pension Credit, even though they are entitled to it. 

"The DfC Minister is piling pressure on a chronically underfunded and overstretched independent advice sector to ensure as many pensioners as possible can urgently claim pension credit to receive the Winter Fuel Payment.

"This callous attack on the elderly follows on from the Executive's failure to lift a finger to remove the cruel two-child Universal Credit limit and its shameful refusal to restore holiday hunger grants. 

"It's business as usual by the Stormont Executive. There's no sign of an Anti-Poverty Strategy. No plan to address deepening housing scarcity and rising rental costs. And continued attacks on children and the elderly. 

"The Tories are gone but austerity as a political choice from Westminster and Stormont continues. There's money for war and corporate handouts but nothing to address deprivation. 

"Trade unions are absolutely right to oppose and campaign against this. 

"We will continue to make the case an alternative is possible and encourage the building of people power resistance to policies that punish the vulnerable."