Age Scotland welcomes Holyrood vote on Winter Fuel Payment

Age Scotland has welcomed the vote at Holyrood calling on the UK Government to reverse its decision to means-test the Winter Fuel Payment.

Now Scotland’s national charity for older people is urging the Scottish Government to be clear about how it intends to deliver the devolved Pension Age Winter Heating Payment when it assumes responsibility for it again next year.

Adam Stachura, Age Scotland’s policy director, said:

“The vote at Holyrood, as a statement of intent, is a welcome move and shows the strength of feeling in the parliament. Hundreds of thousands of pensioners on low income or in fuel poverty face this winter with higher energy costs and less money to keep their homes warm.

"The UK Government should reverse its decision to strip pensioners of their Winter Fuel Payment and we urge the Chancellor spend the time between now and her Budget to work out how to do that.

“We also now need to look at what more Scotland can do to support low and modest income pensioners who are going to really struggle this winter and beyond. The Scottish Government must identify the tools they have at their disposal this year and how next year’s budget can improve the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.”