Pension Credit: Government’s “callous” stripping of Winter Fuel Payment leaves many “shivering in their homes”

EMBARGO: Immediate Release

Responding to the latest pension credit data showing that there are still 33,700 outstanding claims to be processed and that 114,500 claims were rejected - a 133% increase compared to last year, Liberal Democrat Work and Pensions spokesperson Steve Darling MP said:

“Countless pensioners have been forced to choose between heating and eating this winter because of the government’s callous decision to cut Winter Fuel Payments.

“Ministers' promises of boosting pension credit applications are utterly meaningless if they can’t process those claims in time, leaving many shivering in their homes.

“The Government needs to realise the error of their ways and that a situation like this can never be repeated. That means cancelling energy bill rises for those pensioners who have had their Winter Fuel Payments cruelly stripped away.”

ENDS