Winter gas fee: Pensioners ready over 100 days as Labour adjustments DWP guidelines | EUROtoday

Pensioners are dealing with waits of greater than 100 days to safe their winter gas fee as Labour reforms put a serious pressure on the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

An investigation by The Independent has uncovered dozens of instances the place pensioners face a wait of greater than three months for the profit, with many extra feared to be in an identical scenario.

Welfare advisers from a number of organisations have stated that these lengthy ready occasions have develop into a severe problem, with little recourse accessible by way of DWP brokers. The delays imply that lots of those that are eligible and utilized in good time are nonetheless unlikely to obtain the fee till 2025.

The problem follows adjustments introduced by Rachel Reeves in late July, with solely these in receipt of pension credit score eligible for the winter gas fee. In earlier years, all pensioners would obtain the fee each winter.

The DWP says the change has sparked a serious enhance in pension credit score claims, with about 150,000 made within the 16 weeks because the chancellor’s announcement. This is up from 61,300 within the earlier 16 weeks.

Around 500 employees have been introduced in by the division to course of claims sooner, however there’s nonetheless a large backlog to kind. By the center of November, there have been 91,075 excellent claims.

Caroline Abrahams, of Age UK, stated: “The benefits system was never designed to cope with such an upsurge in demand and the Treasury should have factored that in before pressing ahead with their ill-fated reform.”

Christopher Hewett, 69, has been ready over 120 days for a choice on his pension credit score declare. After listening to concerning the adjustments to the winter gas fee, the Norfolk resident says he “applied straight away” and was knowledgeable by the DWP that he would hear again by October.

After listening to nothing, Mr Hewett bought in contact with an adviser – regardless of the lengthy helpline maintain occasions – and was informed he would hear again sooner or later. By December, he had nonetheless not been contacted and was rising extra involved.

He explains what the chilly climate profit would imply to him: “To be honest, it’s a bit tight as things are at the moment. I’ve had several falls recently, and I had a big one a few weeks ago and ended up with fractured vertebrae, ribs and pelvis.”

Mr Hewett says he and his spouse have moved in along with his daughter, a single mom of 1, as he recovers from his accidents. He says he had “factored in” the winter gas fee to assist pay for the heating payments he would require.

After an intervention by The IndependentMr Hewett’s declare has now been positioned on the DWP’s precedence listing and advisers have been in contact. But his case is only one of many.

Latest figures reveal that the typical ready time for pension credit score has grown to 65 working days. This is 15 working days above the DWP’s goal time of fifty days, already raised from 30 days after Labour’s adjustments had been introduced.

Tory shadow work and pensions secretary Helen Whately stated: “It beggars belief that Labour are making some of the country’s poorest pensioners wait until spring to get help with the cost of heating this winter.

“Labour’s policy is as incompetent as it is cruel.”

Mary Cavill, 69, says she was despatched a letter by her native council on 7 September advising her to use for pension credit score, which she promptly did. She was then informed by the DWP she ought to get an replace by November, however grew involved after nobody bought in contact.

Later within the month, Ms Cavill was despatched one other letter, this time by the division, once more advising her to use for pension credit score. She’s now been ready round 100 days for her declare to be processed.

“There’s just so much inefficiency and waste,” Ms Cavill says.

“I try to be as frugal as possible with heating, lighting, water – all the basic utilities … but how am I going to keep warm if I’m not going to have the heating on above half an hour in the morning and an hour or two at night?”

The DWP has now additionally positioned Ms Cavill’s declare on a precedence listing.

Steve Darling, Liberal Democrat work and pensions spokesperson, stated: “First the government slashes winter fuel support for vulnerable pensioners, then they keep people worried for months at a time as they wait for the result of their application. Simply put, it’s unacceptable.

“It should go without saying that people deserve timely responses on such a critical issue. It seems the government has no qualms about adding to the worries of those already having to choose between heating and eating this winter.

“The government must listen to public outcry and climb down from their misguided winter fuel cut.”

A authorities spokesperson stated: “Over a million pensioners will still receive the winter fuel payment, and our drive to boost pension credit take up has seen applications more than double with over 40,000 more pensioners now receiving it, as well as the winter fuel payment. We have deployed additional staff to support processing applications, seeing a 51 per cent increase in the number of cleared claims since the chancellor’s announcement.

“Many others will also benefit from the £150 warm home discount and cold weather payments this winter while our extension of the household support fund will help with the cost of food, heating and bills.”