Around 2,000 pensioners in Stoke-on-Trent could miss out on winter fuel payments this year – despite being eligible for a qualifying benefit.

The Labour government has controversially removed the payments for all but the poorest pensioners, which will see millions lose £200 or £300 a year.

Only pensioners who receive Pension Credit, or other means-tested benefits, are now able to claim the winter fuel payments – aimed at helping people heat their homes during the colder months.In Stoke-on-Trent, 6,442 of the city's 42,661 pensioners (15.1 per cent) currently receive Pension Credit.

But Stoke-on-Trent City Council estimates that another 2,000 do not claim Pension Credit despite being eligible for it – meaning they will be unnecessarily missing out on the winter fuel payments. This number is based on the National Audit Office's estimate that a quarter of pensioners eligible for Pension Credit do not claim it.

Jane Ashworth, leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council (LDRS).

The figures have been released by the council in response to a written question from Conservative councillor Maxine Clark, who asked if the authority had carried out any 'provisional or substantial impact assessments' regarding the fuel payments cut. In a written response to another question, council leader Jane Ashworth has set out the steps the council is taking 'to identify those eligible for pension credit in Stoke-on-Trent who are not claiming it'.

The council has written to all residents who it believes could be eligible for the benefit, based on council tax support and housing benefit data, and information has also been passed onto Citizens' Advice to show where 'financial MOTs' could be targeted. Information about Pension Credit is being distributed via social media and flyers, while housing, benefit and contact officers have been instructed to signpost residents to support where appropriate.

Elected members will debate two motions relating to the winter fuel payments – from the opposition Conservative group and the ruling Labour group respectively – at the full council meeting on Thursday, October 24.

The figures have been released by the council in response to a written question from Conservative councillor Maxine Clark (Image supplied).

The Tory motion calls on the council to 'condemn the decision made by the Labour government to end universal winter fuel payments for 47,761 pensioners across Stoke-on-Trent's three parliamentary constituencies'.

Labour's motion references austerity cuts made by the previous Conservative-led governments and states that the 'incredibly difficult decision' to cut winter fuel payment eligibility was due to the '£22 billion black hole left in the nation's finances by the Conservative government'. But the motion does include a request that the government reviews the eligibility criteria for the payments to help those just above the Pension Credit threshold.

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