10,000 East Sussex pensioners risk missing-out on Winter Fuel Payment

Community energy co-operative Energise Sussex Coast (ESC) is urging East Sussex residents to check if anyone they know is entitled to pension credit, and (if they are eligible) to make sure that they apply for the benefit before the 21 December deadline. The call comes in the wake of the government's decision to means-test pensioners' access to the Winter Fuel Payment, which last year provided over 11 million pensioners with between £100 - £300 in assistance.

For most UK pensioners, access to the Winter Fuel Payment will now depend on whether or not they are receiving pension credit, a benefit given to poorer pensioners. However, Age UK estimate that roughly 1 million pensioners who are entitled to receive pension credit don't currently claim the benefit.

Anyone wanting to check their eligibility can do so themselves using Age UK's free benefits calculator (https://benefitscheck.ageuk.org.uk/Home/Start/) or (if they need further help) by ringing Age UK's free advice line: 0800 678 1602.

Energise Sussex Coast's own energy advisors can also help refer East Sussex residents to local charities who can help them check their eligibility and guide them through the process if necessary. Energise Sussex Coast's free energy service can also provide help with energy-efficiency measures, debt write-offs and fuel vouchers. East Sussex residents can book a free appointment by ringing of texting 01424 390 062.

ESC has just launched a series of new community drop-in sessions at Hastings and Eastbourne libraries, as well as the Community Info Hub in Hastings Town Hall:

• Hastings Library (Brassey Institute, 13 Claremont, TN34 1HE), 10am – 12pm, Tues 8 Oct and Tues 22 Oct
• Community Info Hub (Hastings Town Hall, Station Road, TN34 1NG), 10am – 12pm, Thurs 10 Oct, Thurs 17 Oct, Thurs 24 Oct and Thurs 31 Oct
• Eastbourne Library (Grove Rd, BN21 4TL), 10am – 12pm, Wed 16 Oct and Wed 30 Oct

A full list of times, dates and locations for drop-ins around the County this October can be found online at https://tinyurl.com/energyadviceoct24.

Figures released last month by the DWP suggest that across East Sussex roughly 10,000 vulnerable pensioners may miss out on Winter Fuel Payment this year because they've failed to apply for pension credit that they're entitled to.*

Age UK has recently launched a petition calling on the government to halt its proposed change to the Winter Fuel Payment, stating that 'as many as 2.5 million pensioners who find paying their energy bills a real stretch will be seriously hit by this cut' and that: '[c]utting the Winter Fuel Payment this winter, with virtually no notice and no compensatory measures to protect poor and vulnerable pensioners, is the wrong policy decision'. The petition has already been signed by over half a million people.

A spokesperson for Energise Sussex Coast said: 'Every winter thousands of people in the UK die because they live in cold homes, and the decision to withdraw the Winter Fuel Payment from thousands of vulnerable pensioners is only likely to increase that number. Last year our energy advice service helped over 900 households across East Sussex save over £170,000. Yet those gains will be dwarfed by the losses incurred if thousands of pensioners across the County don't get this year's Winter Fuel Payment because they've failed to apply for the pension credit to which they're entitled. If you know someone who you think might be eligible then please make sure that they check their eligibility and apply before the 21 December deadline.'

Founded in 2012, local community benefit cooperative Energise Sussex Coast works to tackle the climate crisis and energy injustice through community-owned renewable power and energy-saving schemes. It runs a free Energy Advice service to help local residents bring down the cost of their electricity, gas and water bills: 01424 390 062. Its sister coop, Energise South, has raised community investment to finance and install solar arrays on eight community buildings, including Baird Primary School and St Leonards Academy.

* According to DWP figures, 135,955 people across East Sussex received a Winter Fuel Payments during the winter of 2023/2024. This is out of a total of 11,626,099 recipients across the UK. Unite estimate that over 850,000 pensioners who qualify for pension credit are not currently receiving it. If those 850,000 people are spread across the UK in the same proportion as last year's Winter Fuel Payment recipients that would mean that some 850,000 x (135,955 / 11,626,099) = 9,940 East Sussex residents will lose-out this year, despite being eligible, if they fail to apply.