ANAS Sarwar has been accused of having a “brass neck” by promising to expand eligibility for a winter fuel payment if he becomes First Minister – despite Scottish Labour MPs having voted in favour of cutting the benefit at Westminster.
Sir Keir Starmer’s government won a vote in the Commons back in September to restrict payments to all but the poorest pensioners, despite charities and opposition parties hitting out at the decision.
Mr Sarwar promised to expand eligibility for a winter fuel payment if he becomes First Minister
GettySir Keir Starmer’s government won a vote in the Commons back in September to restrict payments to all but the poorest pensioners[/caption]
All but two of the party’s 37 Scottish MPs voted in favour of the cut, with two not recording a vote.
But, in the wake of MPs taking flak during their first few months in office over the decision, Scottish Labour leader Mr Sarwar pledged to boost the number of people eligible via a new payment if he wins power in 2026.
He added: “For months, I have said that the eligibility criterion of pension credit is too low and called for a Scottish solution to this issue.”
The Scottish Government had been due to launch a benefit to replace the winter fuel payment this winter – dubbed the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment – which would have been delivered by quango Social Security Scotland.
However, SNP ministers said that following the decision by the UK Government to means-test the winter fuel payment, they would need to delay the roll-out of the new benefit until next year, with the Department for Work and Pensions delivering the payment this winter.
Nats chiefs also indicated that they would not be able to stick to their pledge to make the new payment universal.
Although, earlier this month, First Minister John Swinney said he was “actively considering” using the Scottish Budget, due to be set out in December, to restore the universal payment in 2025.
Scottish Labour has confirmed it would means-test the payment from the first year it would be in power, 2026-27.
A spokesman said payments would “taper” downwards as pensioners’ income rises, but every pensioner would still get some form of payment.
Asked if this could be a payment of £1, for example, for the wealthiest, the spokesman said this was possible, but the details had not yet been decided.
Mr Sarwar told journalists that he had not spoken to Prime Minister Sir Keir before setting out his stance on the issue on Tuesday.
But, UK Environment Secretary Steve Reed said: “I’m a big supporter of devolution.
Devolution means different countries in the UK can do things differently.
“So, Scottish Labour have made their choice – if they win the election in Scotland, that’s what they’ll do.”
Who is eligible for Pension Credit?
ALMOST 125,000 people living in Scotland, are currently in receipt of Pension Credit, but thousands are still missing out.
Many older Scots may think they are not entitled to the means-tested benefit because they own their own home or savings.
On top of the cash payments, Pension Credit opens doors to other support, including the Winter Fuel Payment, help with housing costs, council tax and heating bills.
An award of just £1 a week can help provide access to additional benefits and support.
Qualifying Scots will also automatically receive a Winter Fuel Payment of up to £300 in line with the new eligibility change.
You could be eligible for Pension Credit if you are aged 66 or older and your income is below £218.15 a week if you’re single or £332.95 as a couple – this is known as the ‘guarantee’ part of the credit.
Even if your income is higher, you could claim if you meet other criteria, such as being a carer, having a disability, have extra housing costs such as service charges or have a child or young person living with you.
If you have more than £10,000 in savings, you could find that your payments may be cut or reduced – but it is still worth applying even if you only get a little extra each week.
You could get the “savings credit” part of pension credit if you reached State Pension age before April 6, 2016, and you saved some money for retirement, for example, a personal or workplace pension.
This is worth £17.01 for single people or £19.04 for couples.
Mr Sarwar’s move was criticised by political rivals, who blasted him for having not spoken out earlier to oppose the cut, which was first set out by Chancellor Rachel Reeves following the election in July.
Scottish Tory shadow social security secretary Liz Smith said: “Anas Sarwar has some brass neck making this promise.
“His own MPs voted for the UK Labour government cuts at Westminster and the Scottish Labour leader was nowhere to be seen.
“It is easy for him to make promises for future years, but almost a million Scottish pensioners are going to bear the brunt of the cuts to winter fuel payment in the coming weeks.”
The SNP’s Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville also hit out: “This is remarkable Orwellian double-think from the Labour Party.
“Having just cut the Winter Fuel Payment for millions of pensioners across the UK, they now expect people to believe that they are in fact on the side of pensioners.”
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