Southwark Lib Dems call for Winter Fuel Payments to be backdated for local pensioners. 

Southwark Liberal Democrats have called on the Government to backdate the Winter Fuel Payment for local pensioners 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 won’t be reimbursed under the Government’s plans. 

Cllr Rachel Bentley has now called on the Government to backdate the support for pensioners in Southwark who were stripped of the winter fuel payment last winter and are now entitled to support this time. 

Cllr Bentley said “it is the least pensioners deserve” after countless people were forced to choose between heating and eating after “the Government’s disastrous decision”. 

In November, Labour unanimously rejected a motion put forward by Cllr Bentley to call on the Government to reverse the policy.  

Southwark Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader, Cllr Rachel Bentley 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 for elderly people in Southwark. 

“This is no thanks to every single local Labour councillor who chose to support the Government’s choice last winter to strip these vital payments from thousands of vulnerable elderly people. 
 
“I heard countless stories from people here in Southwark who were struggling to make ends meet after this support was stripped away. 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. The Liberal Democrats will be pushing the Government every step of the way in Parliament, to force their hand and get these payments backdated.”