The Government has been slammed in no uncertain terms by Cornwall Council’s Conservative administration on its decision to cut the winter fuel allowance for most pensioners, writes Local Democracy Reporter Lee Trewhela.

One councillor went as far as accusing the Labour Party of “freezing grandmothers at Christmas” in Cornwall.

Up to 100,000 pensioners in Cornwall could be affected by the new Government’s decision to block the annual winter fuel payment of either £200 or £300, depending on age, to all pensioners except those with the lowest incomes.

During a meeting of the council’s Conservative cabinet today (Wednesday, September 18), the matter was raised by Cllr Philip Desmonde, who represents the residents of Pool and Tehidy.

He commented that there are tens of thousands of elderly people in Cornwall and it is part of the council’s “mission statement that ‘age well’ is at the heart of all that this administration stands for. The Government has not produced an impact assessment on the outcome of their decision and I was wondering if you have sought to have an impact assessment made for Cornwall Council on the cruel decision to freeze grandmothers at Christmas?”

Cllr Andy Virr, portfolio holder for adult social care and health, replied “You’re right to raise this as a concern. It is a very surprising first policy decision by this new Government and is absolutely disappointing.”

He said Cornwall’s Public Health team had carried out a review of the impact of the decision, which would be provided to the council. “We know there’s an association with poor heating, poor housing quality and being in cold homes in the winter causing illness and actual deaths. We would encourage any residents concerned around paying their bills to seek advice, contact the council and their MP to make sure they claim all the benefits they can be claiming.”

Cllr Desmonde praised Age Concern, which is providing advice for those affected. “They have put together a petition to seek to deal with the fallout from this weird decision of the current Government to take such a cruel decision.”

Under Labour’s means-testing of the benefit, only pensioners who receive pension credit or certain other benefits will continue to receive the allowance – but many, although eligible for the benefits, have not applied.

More than 80 per cent of people aged 80 and over will miss out, as will more than 70 per cent of pensioners, according to Department for Work and Pensions figures released this week. Even among those who should still receive the payments, an estimated 780,000 will miss out because they have not claimed pension credit.

Cornwall Council’s leader Cllr Linda Taylor said there would be six months of funding available under the Household Support Fund, although the amount is not yet known, which will be used by the council to target low income households. The council will work with the Department of Work and Pensions and its own adult social care team to identify vulnerable households affected by the Government cuts.

“It’s a bit of a help,” she said, “but removal of the winter fuel allowance is a bit of a blow – it’s quite despicable on our most vulnerable. We need to stress to some of our residents who are proud and don’t want to be seen to be claiming pensions credit that this is not charity, this is a right – don’t let pride stop you claiming that credit. Even if you only benefit by 10p, it opens the door for all the other benefits.

“We cannot allow our most vulnerable to suffer this winter, and they will if they don’t get the right support.”

Cabinet member Cllr Connor Donnithorne said he was aware that a motion by the Liberal Democrat group is due to come to a full council meeting next week asking for the leader to write to the Government concerning its decision to cut the winter fuel allowance.

“I’m aware there will be around 100,000 pensioners across Cornwall who will be terrified about this decision and I think a week is too long to leave that,” he added. “Not wanting to make the motion next week redundant, but could I ask you to write a letter sooner to ask the Government to reconsider this incredibly damaging policy to remove the winter fuel payment from some of the poorest pensioners in Cornwall – it could have a devastating impact.”

Cllr Taylor said she was happy to do that and would also ask the Government to look at the process that eligible pensioners have to go through to apply for pension credit. “I’m being told it’s hundreds of pages long. This is going to be a nightmare. We will ask for a swifter and more effective way of assessing very quickly an individual’s right to pension credit,” she said.

The council leader stressed Cllr Donnithorne’s earlier comment that up to 100,000 pensioners in Cornwall could be affected – “which is absolutely shocking”.

There is a dedicated page on the Cornwall Council website where Cornish residents can see what financial support is available for them.