Peter Prinsley, MP for Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket, explains his winter fuel allowance vote

A Suffolk MP said not one Labour politician is completely comfortable with the decision to remove winter fuel payments for pensioners.

Earlier this week, Dr Peter Prinsley, MP for Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket, was one of those that voted against the motion to block cuts to the payments.

Explaining his decision, Dr Prinsley said: “Tough choices will need to be made and not one Labour MP is completely comfortable about this decision to remove a universal benefit for pensioners.

“On the other hand there are also many poor working families who also cannot afford energy bills and there is no energy benefit for them.

“We were informed that this will save approximately £1.3 billion which by chance is almost exactly the same as the capital sum which will be committed to replace the West Suffolk hospital.”

He added: “During the course of this Parliament it is anticipated that pensions will rise by about £1700 as a result of the commitment to the triple lock and that the cap on energy bills will also help.

“There will be a campaign to ensure all pensioners who are eligible access pension credit and the warm homes allowance.”

Carol Eagles, chief executive officer of Citizens Advice West Suffolk, said the organisation is expecting a high volume of calls from pensioners wondering if they are eligible for pension credit.

The winter fuel payments of either £200 or £300 were usually made in November and December, before the new Labour Government announced they would be stopping them in July.

Tuesday’s vote was called by the Conservative opposition who put forward a motion to block the Government’s plans.

Pensioners claiming pension credit to top up a low income will still be eligible for winter fuel payments.

Citizens Advice West Suffolk is urging all pensioners to check if they are eligible for pension credit by visiting: www.gov.uk/pension-credit-calculator

Carol said: “People often think they are not eligible if they have savings over £16,000 but this is not necessarily true as it will depend on their personal circumstances and if they have a disability.”

Anyone who needs help to check their eligibility or needs help with submitting a claim can contact the organisation online, by phone or by dropping in to reception on specific days of the week.

Contact details for Citizens Advice West Suffolk can be found here.

Pension credit can be applied for online, over the phone or by completing a paper form. More details on how to apply can be found here.

If you, or a family member, are expecting to be affected by the cuts to winter fuel payments please get in touch with Suffolk News by emailing suzanne.day@iliffepublishing.co.uk