Maree Todd says new winter heating payment has ‘righted a disgraceful wrong’
A new winter heating payment will be “a vital lifeline” for pensioners in Scotland, Maree Todd has said.
She claimed the new measure announced by the Scottish Government had “righted a disgraceful wrong” after Labour’s cut to the UK-wide Winter Fuel Payment.
Scotland’s social justice secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville announced that a new Pension Age Winter Heating Payment will be introduced north of the border next year.
Ms Todd, the SNP MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, said: “The announcement of this new support by the SNP Scottish Government has righted a disgraceful wrong, ensuring pensioners in the Highlands are supported at a time of soaring energy bills and shameful inaction from the UK government.
“This new payment will be a vital lifeline for nearly a million Scots, delivered by a government that puts the people of Scotland first.
“During the election campaign, Sir Keir Starmer promised to bring down energy bills and support older people. Labour’s Winter Fuel Payment cut to 900,000 Scots was a gross betrayal of their promises to the public and shows just how little ‘change’ there is under a Labour government at Westminster.
“Scotland will not forgive Scottish Labour MPs and MSPs who shamefully backed the cutting of the Winter Fuel Payment.”
The Scottish Government will provide universal support through the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment next year, ensuring a payment for every pensioner household in the winter of 2025/26.
Ms Somerville confirmed that pensioners in receipt of a relevant qualifying benefit, such as Pension Credit, will be receiving a Pension Age Winter Heating Payment of £300 or £200, depending on their age.
All other pensioner households will receive £100 from next winter, providing them with support not available anywhere else in the UK.
Ms Somerville also announced a £41 million package of support for people struggling with energy costs this winter. These measures include an additional £20 million that will be provided for the Scottish Welfare Fund, enabling councils to provide more support to people in crisis.
An additional £20 million will be invested into the Warmer Homes Scotland scheme, the national fuel poverty initiative that helps people install energy-efficiency measures and more efficient heating systems.
Meanwhile, grant funding of £1 million will be made available to registered social landlords and third-sector partners to fund work to help sustain tenancies and prevent homelessness.
Ms Somerville said: “The measures I have announced will go some way to allay the fears of pensioners in Scotland ahead of next winter, but the Scottish Government recognises that more must be done.
“Ahead of next winter I will bring forward regulations to introduce universal Pension Age Winter Heating Payment in winter 2025/26 for Scottish pensioners.
“This universal benefit – providing much-needed support not available anywhere else in the UK – will deliver support for all pensioner households as we had always intended to do before the UK government decision to means-test winter fuel payments cut the funding available to support our new benefit in Scotland this winter by £147 million.
“We will not abandon older people this winter or any winter. We will do our best to make sure no-one has to make a decision between heating and eating, and we will continue to protect pensioners.”
