Our new government - which is based on the origins of the Labour party that of socialism. The party was for fairer distribution of wealth and care for the vulnerable in society. So it has come as rather a shock that the present Chancellor as announced the stopping of the universal Winter fuel allowance for the elderly. She states a difficult decision given the state of the treasury finances! She has set a criteria to continue payment to those on Pension Credit and most in poverty and struggling with day to day demands of the cost of living. On face value this sounds fair as we do have wealthy pensioners with assets to cope with the cost of winter energy that do not personally need £300 winter fuel allowance.
But there is a very big proportion that are just outside the criteria of qualifying for Pension Credit yet are not wealthy, no vast sum of income or savings or assets to cope with rising energy costs and cost of living. So this policy does need major review and has come under a lot of pressure from constituents of many MPs of various elected parties.
I am concerned that the policy making has failed to look at the true cost. There is a a spin off cost to the NHS if the elderly are not housed in a warm environment in the cold winter months. I have long pointed out that our muscles and joints do not work as well when cold and therefore are at risk of falls, with that risk of a fall there is a chance of fracturing the neck of femur. This necessitates orthopaedic surgery and rehabilitation in hospital. Plus as you read through the references I have listed below there is risk of stroke from raised BP, weakened immune system, respiratory problems and hypothermia.
(Scroll down for links and to the Age UK petition)
In among these risk factors there are patients vulnerable at home being managed on medical equipment that requires an energy source. So there is a call for an delay on this decision to think out a better support plan for the vulnerable in society. There is also a feeling of shame that we elderly are being targeted in this way. I am also a 1950s born woman that like the 3.6 million of us are already feeling hurt and abused by past governments targeting us to raise the retirement age to 66 from 60 so we lost out on 6 years State Pension. We have fought in the High Courts and also the Parliamentary Ombudsmen but still not received the lost amount nor compensation. I have pointed out in parliament that it is never lost money to the treasury as we will be spending on goods and services that will bring at the very least VAT back to the treasury.
I am already in an Ombudsman case with my energy supplier EON Next that keeps sending balance statements that are incongruent with me living alone in a studio bungalow with one radiator in the Sitting/Bedroom area, a small radiator in the bathroom and one in the hallway. I do not use kitchen appliances on a daily basis like a family would. So it is beyond comprehension when these balances are sent to me yet with evidence of my payments from my weekly State Pension as a 70 year old OAP.
I have thought that if the treasury will not give the Winter Fuel Allowance then maybe Parliament could put a demand that all energy companies credit accounts of the vulnerable elderly with a lump sum of £300 a sum from their profit margins... There has to be a way of supporting all the elderly that are in need of help and support not targeted and being made a political game of in the treasury books! Policies really need to be made with compassion for citizens and thought out on the full impact of the blunder of mal-policies.
Useful information links
The subject of Winter Fuel Allowance is intertwined with debates on:-
Energy & Net Zero;
Social Budget & Funding;
Work & Pensions;
NHS demands & funding;
Care of Elderly & Vulnerable in society;
Poverty;
Taxation of wealthy & business;
Treasury & General Budget.
Debates take place in the Chamber and in Westminster Hall.
There are All Party Parliamentary Groups that meet in committee rooms and Portculus House. These offer invites from we the people to attend and take part in comments & questions plus raise points from experience of policies affects.
Here are useful links:-
From 15th September in this parliament APPG Poverty
There is also a group Compassion in Politics that meet
We need compassion in politics and in policymaking!
Our Voices can be Heard
Come on in - the door is open!
Our Parliament
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