Pensioners with lower incomes in Cheshire West and Chester could receive a £200 cash boost this winter, pending council approval.
Cheshire West and Chester Council's proposal follows the government's decision to discontinue the universal Winter Fuel Payment (WFP) of £200 or £300. Now, only pensioners receiving pension credit or other benefits are eligible for the WFP, affecting approximately 66,000 local pensioners, according to the council.
Councillor Carol Gahan stated that the plan aims to provide £200 payments to all eligible low-income pensioner households in the borough who no longer qualify for pension credit. These payments would be made "before the end of the year."
Prime Minister Keir Starmer had previously indicated that introducing means testing for WFPs could help address a £22bn deficit in public finances, with government plans for "mitigations" to ease the impact.
Ms. Gahan acknowledged that energy bills remain a significant concern for low-income pensioners and warned that those slightly above the pension credit threshold were "facing a cliff edge" with the recent WFP changes. She praised the council's Labour administration for stepping up to "bridge the gap" and provide support.
The proposal, expected to benefit about 3,000 households at a cost of around £600,000, will be discussed at a full council meeting on 17 October, with a final decision on 22 October. Funding would come from the council's £2.3m allocation of the Household Support Fund, aimed at helping residents struggling with essential costs like energy, water bills, and food.
The council will identify eligible households using council tax reduction and housing benefits data.
However, Conservative councillors have submitted a motion opposing the plan. They are urging council leader Louise Gittins to write to the Chancellor, requesting a review of the decision to scrap the WFP. They also want the government to ensure vulnerable pensioners, especially those not claiming pension credit, are "protected from fuel poverty."