'MPs should share the pain of the winter fuel cut'

Jo Lorenz, of St Michael's Youth Project, wants MPs to take a pay cut as pensioners face losing their winter fuel payments

The manager of a centre that helps struggling families has challenged politicians to take pay cuts to show solidarity with pensioners who face losing their winter fuel payments.

Jo Lorenz said she and her team at St Michael's Youth Project, on Hull's Orchard Park estate, supported about 100 families each week, including pensioners who attend a lunch club.

More than nine million pensioners stand to lose out on the annual payment of up to £300 a year, with the winter fuel payment payable only to those on low incomes who receive certain benefits.

Ms Lorenz said: "We're in tough times. People want to see our leaders take the hit, too."

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he did not have a "magic wand" to fix the country's finances

In April, MPs were awarded a pay rise of 5.5%, lifting their annual salaries to £91,346. The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, which makes decisions around MPs' pay, said the rise was in line with the award agreed for senior civil servants.

However, Ms Lorenz said: "I would respect our leaders more if they were seen to be also taking a hit."

Labour has said that the cut in winter fuel payments - worth about £1.5bn - is necessary to fill an alleged £22bn "black hole" in the budget left by the previous government.

The state pension age in the UK is 66, but eligible 65-year-olds can apply for pension credit up to four months before reaching that age.

Those receiving it may be eligible for a winter fuel payment of either £200 or £300, depending on their date of birth and circumstances between 16 and 22 September 2024.

People receiving other benefits, such as universal credit or child tax credit, may also be eligible.

Defending the cut, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told BBC Look North on Thursday he wanted to ensure there were "mitigations in place for the most vulnerable", and he urged those eligible for pension credit to claim it.

But he made clear "tough decisions" were needed.

The government said "tough decisions" were needed to tackle an alleged budget shortfall

Ms Lorenz said she was aware of people who were "only just" over the threshold - people who, she said, could not reasonably be described as being "well off".

"We are extremely worried. This is going to hit some of our most vulnerable," she said.

"For these people, it's going to be back to eating or heating. Yes, there will be people out there who use the payment to take a winter holiday. But a lot of people we see have really come to rely on that money just to get by; to see them through winter."

In addition to a lunch club open to everyone each Thursday, St Michael's operates a food bank.

"People have said nasty things about those who use food banks," said Ms Lorenz.

"But there are people who work, on low incomes, and pensioners who can't make ends meet."

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