As the winter unfolds, there is going to be an inevitable increase in fuel bills due to the high usage of gas and electricity especially for those who are on prepayment meter. During this time, the fuel cost is also to go up and access to fuel support is to be removed for pensioners who are not on pension credit by the current government. In this month’s Debt Talk podcast, Ripon Ray spoke about: 'Pensioners & winter fuel payment'. To navigate the subject, two panellists took part on the podcast to raise awareness of the impact of removal of Winter Fuel Allowance.

Ian Samuel, a pensioner, and a Labour Party member shared his personal experience of not getting the support in this winter and his fear that many other pensioners, who already struggled with existing system, are to find themselves in further financial hardship. As a former social worker, he heard first-hand how low income pensioners struggled with prepayment meters whilst on pension credit. Recently he had a health scare which made him feel the vulnerability of being a single man living on his own. He wrote to his Member of Parliament and passionately campaigned against the removal of Winter Fuel Allowance. He explained how several councils have set up local hubs to encourage the uptake of pension credit.

Matthew Cole, Head of the Fuel Bank Foundation recognised the need for the government to manage public finances. However, he was not convinced whether this was the right way to go about do it. He explained that the measure was implemented without exploring the impact it would have on low income pensioners who would miss out by just a £1 over the threshold. He emphasised that the government could have explored the tapering system as is the case with universal credit, a means tested benefit for working age population. Regardless of the stigma attached, he emphasised the importance of claiming pension credit because it would give access to other financial support, such as council reduction and housing benefit from local councils.

Both panel members also provided TOP TIPS to Debt Talk Listeners to address the challenges faced by pensioners for this winter.

My Debt Talk podcast is on: ‘Financial exclusion & lending’.