Pensioners to get one-off £100 fuel cost after | U.Ok.Finance Information
Pensioners in Northern Eire who took a hit from reductions in winter fuel assist are set for a financial increase, with a one-off cost promised by Stormont’s devolved authorities. Throughout a committee briefing, it was revealed that particular person pensioners dwelling alone will obtain £100, and in households with a number of eligible pensioners, every will get £50.
Division for Communities officers have signalled their confidence in processing these funds earlier than March ends. This pledge comes after roughly 249,000 pensioners in Northern Eire misplaced entitlement to the winter fuel assist cost attributable to Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ austerity measures enacted final 12 months by the UK’s Labour authorities.
The unique coverage granted all pensioners quantities ranging between £200 and £300, however was narrowed to incorporate solely these on choose advantages like Pension Credit score. Communities Minister Gordon Lyons had beforehand introduced in November the intent to distribute a one-off cost to these adversely affected, managing to earmark £17 million from an in-year monitoring fund.
This Pension Age Gas Help Fee Scheme goals for expedient supply, instantly depositing funds into bank accounts by the conclusion of March. In his Thursday morning look earlier than the Stormont Communities Committee, David Tarr estimated the entire worth of the initiative at about £18 million, not accounting for the prices of administration and IT.
Conrad McConnell indicated that his workforce set to work “immediately” post-announcement to make sure well timed distribution.
“There are an estimated 179,000 households in Northern Ireland expected to receive this payment,” he declared. “We started work immediately once the announcement was made to put in all the necessary IT and logistical arrangements to ensure the issuing of the payments before the end of March.”
He added that a devoted workforce is working tirelessly to satisfy the deadline, regardless of the complexity of the duty: “We have a dedicated team in place which meets weekly and works on this every day to make this happen on time. There are lots of strands involved in this work. But despite all the complexity across all the various strands of work… we are on track to have the payment paid before the end of March 2025.”
Committee chair Colm Gildernew expressed his approval of the cost, following what he termed as the federal government’s “disgraceful” cut.
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