The Government may have reintroduced a modified Winter Fuel Payment scheme for pensioners, but Bath’s MP Wera Hobhouse says it should be backdated for local people who lost out last winter.
Under the Government’s plans, all pensioners earning £35,000 a year or less will now have their Winter Fuel Payments reinstated this winter. However, those who are now eligible but lost out last winter will not be reimbursed under the Government’s plans.
Mrs. Hobhouse called on the Government to backdate the support for pensioners in Bath who were stripped of the winter fuel payment last year and are now entitled to support. This comes after her prior warning that pensioners would be left to choose between heating and eating during the colder months.
The Bath MP said “it is the least pensioners deserve” after countless people were forced to choose between heating and eating after “the Government’s disastrous decision”.
Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, said:
“I am glad that the Government has finally listened to the Liberal Democrats and other tireless campaigners in realising what a disastrous policy this was.
“My inbox was full of stories from people here in Bath who were struggling to make ends meet after this support was stripped away. I have raised this issue on behalf of my constituents time and again. If the Government has truly ‘listened’ they should be backdating these payments to all those who lost support last winter but will receive it this time around.
“It is the least pensioners deserve after what they had to suffer through this winter. My Liberal Democrat colleagues and I will be pushing the Government every step of the way in Parliament, to force their hand and get these payments backdated.”
