While the vote is not binding, more pressure is on Prime Minister Keir Starmer. He has faced huge opposition over a controversial Labor policy to cut benefits from millions of pensioners by conducting a trial of payments that were normally guaranteed.
Sharon Graham, general secretary of Unite, moved the proposal.
He said: “The nation wants food, work and housing… They want a high and rising standard of living, security for all, against rainy days.
“My friends, it is a quote from the 1945 Labor manifesto, written in the shadow of death, destruction and debt, caused by years of war. A manifesto of hope.”
Ms Graham said the debt was “almost three times higher than it is now” but “no one is talking about cuts, no one is talking about austerity and certainly no one is making a daily payment”.
He added: “I don’t see how the new Labor government can cut the winter fuel allowance for pensioners and leave the very rich out.
“This is not what people chose. It was a wrong decision and it should be reversed.”
The motion passed with a wave of hands.
The proposed cuts will affect around 10 million pensioners in the UK.
Senior Labor politicians have maintained that benefit testing is necessary to fill the funding black hole left behind by the Tories. Reports indicate that this will save the country around ÂŁ1.3 billion.
However, the country’s most vulnerable pensioners will still receive the credit, worth up to £300.
Here’s what you need to know about winter fuel payments.
What is the future fuel payment?
This is an annual tax-free payment provided by the Government to help older people with heating costs in winter. Currently, these payments are a universal benefit for all retirees – but not for much longer.
Who is eligible for winter fuel payments?
The amount of pension you receive depends on your age and life circumstances. For example:
From 2024, only pensioners receiving other benefits such as universal credit or pension credit will receive the winter fuel payment.
Many argue that pensioners only receive pension credit if their annual income is less than ÂŁ11,336.
Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said the limit on future fuel payments for people on pension credit is “reckless and wrong” and “spells disaster for pensioners on low and modest incomes”.
Age UK says it will fight the decision and has launched a petition.
Scotland does not provide a universal winter fuel payment for all pensioners. However, the Scottish government has introduced the winter heating payment, an annual allowance of ÂŁ58.75 for those receiving certain benefits.
When will eligible people receive winter fuel payments?
Those eligible will receive a letter informing them:
- how much will they get
- bank account into which it will be paid – usually the same as pension credit or other benefits.
How to apply if you think you are eligible for future fuel payments
If you think you’re eligible for a winter fuel payment but haven’t received it automatically, you can apply by following these steps.
- Check eligibility: Make sure you meet the eligibility criteria mentioned above.
- Collect information: Have your national insurance number, bank or building society details, and the date you got married or entered into a civil partnership (if applicable).
- Apply by phone or mail: With the phone: Call the Winter Fuel Payment Center. Telephone numbers can be found on the UK Government website. According to the post: Download the claim form from the UK government website, fill it out, and send it to the address provided in the form.
- Submit your claim: Make sure to submit your statement by the deadline, usually around the end of March for the winter season.
When will the winter fuel allowance be introduced?
Tony Blair’s Labor government introduced the payment in 1997 to tackle fuel poverty among the elderly. The aim is to provide financial support to help pensioners with the cost of heating their homes during the winter.
The payment is ÂŁ20 (or ÂŁ50 for those receiving means-tested benefits).
