Age Scotland response to UK Government Budget

Responding to today's UK Government Autumn Budget, Age Scotland's Chief Executive, Katherine Crawford, said:

“This was a big opportunity for the Chancellor and Prime Minister to protect the health of hundreds of thousands of low-income pensioners in Scotland, and they missed it.

“Cutting the Winter Fuel Payment so drastically means that 85% of pensioners in Scotland living in poverty or on the poverty line will have at least £200 less in their pockets this winter as they face increasing energy bills.

“A rise to state pension next year is welcome, and was expected, but doesn’t compensate for losing the Winter Fuel Payment and falls short  of what the majority of pensioners need to get by. The bottom line is that pensioners on the lowest incomes are going to be worse off than they would have been.

“With an extra £3.4 billion in Barnett consequentials announced for Scotland we desperately hope the Scottish Government will now use it to reinstate the devolved Pension Age Winter Heating Payment for all pensioners, the cost of which would amount to less than 5% of extra money. This would show what Scotland can do using the powers of devolution."