{"id":17804,"date":"2024-11-19T12:19:52","date_gmt":"2024-11-19T12:19:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gpt.m2mbeta.com\/?p=17804"},"modified":"2024-11-19T12:19:52","modified_gmt":"2024-11-19T12:19:52","slug":"100-payment-to-help-pensioners-with-winter-fuel-cuts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gpt.m2mbeta.com\/?p=17804","title":{"rendered":"\u00a3100 payment to help pensioners with winter fuel cuts"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"PAPA Media<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Gordon Lyons said \u00a317m had been found in Stormont’s latest monitoring round allowing help to households affected by the cut.<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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Pensioners in Northern Ireland affected by cuts to winter fuel support are to get a one-off \u00a3100 payment from Stormont, Gordon Lyons has said.<\/p>\n

In August, the UK Government said winter fuel payments would be means tested<\/a> and only go to pensioners on certain benefits.<\/p>\n

The communities minister criticised the government for taking the decision<\/a>, but said Northern Ireland would have to follow suit.<\/p>\n

Last week, Lyons said \u00a317m had been found in Stormont’s latest monitoring round to allow him to help households affected by the cut.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

‘Stay warm and safe’<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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It is estimated about 249,000 pensioners in Northern Ireland were going to be affected by cuts to winter fuel payments this year.<\/p>\n

On Tuesday, the communities minister told the Northern Ireland Assembly he wanted to ensure that every pensioner has support to “stay warm and safe” during the winter.<\/p>\n

He said that the initiative of a one-off \u00a3100 payment was based on options explored after the additional funding was provided to his department last week.<\/p>\n

“I believe this initiative reflects my commitment to fairness, compassion, and responsibility towards our older population,” he added.<\/p>\n

“My officials are now working at pace to prepare and bring forward the necessary legislation and to finalise arrangements.<\/p>\n

“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.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The minister said there will be no application process, as the department will automatically identify eligible individuals through existing records.<\/p>\n

“This approach will ensure a smooth and efficient distribution of payments, without the additional burden of application forms or red tape,” he said.<\/p>\n

Lyons said he disagreed with the UK Government’s decision to change how winter fuel support works and that he would continue to make the case for its full reinstatement.<\/p>\n

Under the changes, about 57,000 pensioners in Northern Ireland will continue to receive winter fuel payments, with an estimated cost of \u00a310.5m.<\/p>\n

To qualify for the payment of up to \u00a3300, pensioners must receive pension credit or other means-tested benefits.<\/p>\n

Lyons told the assembly that from August to October this year, 3,026 applications for pension credit had been received by his department – representing a rise of about 56% from the same time last year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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