The once universal £200- £300 payment will now be means tested and campaigners say many who rely on the money to meet higher fuel bills will face difficulties
West Lothian Council is bracing itself for a surge in pleas for help from pensioners after the government's decision to cut the Winter Fuel Payment.
The council's Advice Shop service also helped more than 1,000 pensioners secure benefits they had not been claiming. Winter Fuel Payments were devolved to the Scottish Government ahead of the national decision to restrict the payments to those on benefits. According to the Scottish Government: "This will lead to an investment of approximately £30 million and is anticipated to assist between 110,000 to 130,000 older people in Scotland this year, dependent on Pension Credit take-up."
"However there are likely to be pensioners living locally who will no longer receive the payment, and we would encourage anyone struggling to contact the council's Advice Shop for support.
West Lothian Council Fuel Bills Taxes
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