Help for those affected by winter fuel payment cut

Council bosses said the payments should benefit over 1,500 pensioners across Hull

Hundreds of pensioners affected by cuts to the winter fuel payment could be in line for extra help.

Hull City Council has endorsed proposals to allocate £307,000 to support residents with the most limited incomes who no longer qualify for the allowance.

Those in receipt of council tax support of between 80% and 99% would receive an automatic £200 payment, the authority said.

“These payments should benefit over 1,500 pensioners across Hull," council leader Mike Ross said.

The winter fuel payment was previously paid to all pensioners to help with energy bills.

However, in July, the government said it would only be made to those on low incomes who received certain benefits, later citing that it needed to fill a £22bn black hole left behind by the Conservatives.

It further announced an extension to the Household Support Fund (HSF) - money distributed to councils that can use the scheme to give struggling households small payments.

Hull City Council said it welcomed the extension and would use the latest allocation to fund the additional financial support.

It also plans to use its HSF funding to support the work of foodbanks and provide help for low-income households to improve energy efficiency.

Mr Ross added: "As a council, we have called on the government to scrap their plans to cut the winter fuel payment. Regardless of whether that happens, we have to look after our own here in the city."

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