November 20, 2024
Laura

£100 payment to help NI pensioners with winter fuel cuts

Pensioners in Northern Ireland impacted by reductions in winter fuel support will receive a one-off £100 payment from Stormont, according to Gordon Lyons.

In August, the UK Government announced that winter fuel payments would be means-tested, limiting them to pensioners receiving specific benefits. The communities minister criticised this decision but acknowledged that Northern Ireland must comply with the policy.

Last week, Lyons revealed that £17 million had been secured to assist households affected by the cut.

What does this mean for pensioners?

Around 249,000 pensioners in Northern Ireland were set to be hit by cuts to winter fuel payments this year.

Eddie Lynch, Northern Ireland’s Commissioner for Older People, called the £100 payment a “welcome announcement” but not quite enough. He noted many pensioners would usually get £200-£300 to help through winter, leaving them with a shortfall this year and likely to struggle.

How do pensioners apply for this payment?

The Minister said there won’t be an application process since the department will use existing records to identify who’s eligible.

Paschal McKeown from Age NI welcomed the payment, and praised the fact that pensioners would not have to apply for the payment, but receive it automatically. However, he also warned it falls short of what older people need to stay warm.

When will pensioners receive their payment?

Eddie Lynch raised concerns that payments might not arrive until March 2025 – obviously after the worst of the winter has passed.

On Tuesday, the communities minister told the Assembly he’s committed to helping every pensioner “stay warm and safe” this winter, but was unable to confirm a set date as to when these payments would be made.

“My officials are now working at pace to prepare and bring forward the necessary legislation and to finalise arrangements.

“The payment will be made before the end of March 2025, however I am working closely with officials to deliver this as soon as possible.”

Taking care over winter

This £100 one-off payment comes at a crucial time, as energy prices remain high across all suppliers in Northern Ireland. For example, electricity prices are still around 80% above where they were in 2020 before Covid and the war in Ukraine, whilst gas prices are still around double normal levels.

If you’re waiting or are concerned about the reduction in support, there are a few other ways to help manage your energy bills.

For one, make sure that you have switched energy suppliers in the last 12 months. If you have not, you are unlikely to be paying the cheapest price for your energy. Power to Switch customers, for instance, save roughly £420 when they switch with us.

You can then have a look at energy saving tips on our blog. See the following for advice for the winter in particular: