Scotland scraps universal winter fuel payments for pensioners

Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Shirley-Anne Somerville at the launch of the sixth paper in the Building a New Scotland series at the V&A Dundee. Ministers are hosting a reception to discuss the paper's proposals with stakeholders in migration and asylum policy. Photographed: Friday 3 November 2016.

The Scottish Government has confirmed that it will no longer provide winter fuel payments to all pensioners. The once-universal benefit will now be means-tested and will be a replica of a UK Government Decision. The introduction of a replacement Scottish benefit has also been delayed. This comes amid reports that Finance Secretary Shona Robison has … Read more

SNP scraps universal winter fuel payments for pensioners but blames Labour

I am 89 years old and depend on winter fuel payments: losing it terrifies me.

The Scottish Government has announced that universal winter fuel payments for pensioners in Scotland will be scrapped. The SNP administration has blamed the UK government for the move, saying it had “no choice” but to follow the cuts announced by Labour minister Rachel Reeves. The annual benefit previously given to all pensioners, worth up to … Read more

Warning for thousands of households receiving social benefits: 284,660 have suspended payments

Warning for thousands of households receiving social benefits: 284,660 have suspended payments

Households receiving six legacy benefits that will be replaced by Universal Credit have been issued a warning after thousands of people had their payments removed. New government figures show that 284,660 benefit claimants lost their benefits for failing to switch to Universal Credit within a significant three-month period. Two million legacy benefit claimants are gradually … Read more

Scotland scraps universal winter fuel payments for pensioners

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PA Media Annual winter fuel payments amount to between £100 and £300 The Scottish Government has confirmed that it will follow the UK Government’s lead and stop providing winter fuel payments to all pensioners. Instead, the benefit will be means-tested, while the introduction of a Scottish benefit to replace it has been delayed. Scotland’s Social … Read more