Luton’s pensioners could soon receive more support with winter fuel bills, following calls from one of the town’s Members of Parliament for urgent action on the cost of living crisis facing older residents.
The Winter Fuel Payment currently provides between £250 and £600 to help pensioners pay their energy bills during the colder months.
The government has now confirmed it will review the eligibility criteria for the Winter Fuel Payment, with further details expected to be announced in the Autumn Budget.
Speaking in the House of Commons during Prime Minister’s Questions, Luton North MP Sarah Owen said: “People in Luton who have worked hard all their lives [are] seeing their precious savings slip away.”
She asked Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer: “What measures he will take to help struggling pensioners in towns like mine?”
In response, Mr Starmer acknowledged the economic challenges many pensioners are facing and blamed the previous government for what he called an “absolute mess”. However, he offered a more hopeful outlook, pointing to recent data showing the UK economy is now growing faster than any other G7 country.
“As the economy improves, we want to make sure people feel those improvements as their lives go forward,” he said, adding: “That is why we want to ensure that as we go forward, more pensioners are eligible for winter fuel payments.”
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