Winter vouchers to help 1,000 city pensioners

Eligible pensioners in Peterborough could get £100 winter support vouchers

"Vital winter payments" to help about 1,000 city pensioners have been announced by a council.

Peterborough City Council has teamed up with Age UK to launch its Older Adults Winter Support programme, providing £100 vouchers to those most in need with their energy bills.

It comes after Chancellor Rachel Reeves withdrew winter payments to households in England and Wales, with exceptions for people who receive Pension Credit or certain other means-tested benefits.

Alison Jones, Labour cabinet member for housing and communities, said: "With winter just around the corner, we wanted to do something to specifically help older people who may be struggling and feeling vulnerable right now."

The Winter Fuel Payment is an annual, tax-free lump sum payment intended to give older people support to heat their homes in winter.

The UK government's figures showed 83% of people over 80 would lose the payment. It said it was necessary to address a financial "black hole" it inherited from the Conservatives.

In Peterborough, the Household Support Fund, which will pay for the local voucher scheme, has been extended until March - and eligible pensioners who meet the following criteria can apply:

• Aged 65 and over

• Live alone or with another person aged 65 or over

• Household income of less than £320 per week

• Savings of less than £10,000, with proof required

• Not eligible for Pension Credit

Age UK said it would be able to help people apply.

Melanie Pittock, chief executive officer for Age UK Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said: "Nobody should feel embarrassed to ask for support and we encourage applications to this scheme."

Last week, councillors passed a motion put forward by Conservative Alex Rafiq calling on the council leader, Labour's Dennis Jones, to write to the chancellor, urging her to review the government's decision.

The motion was passed with 35 votes in favour and 15 abstentions.

Mr Jones said he would write the letter, but added the cutbacks were an "unpopular decision" the government did not want to make.