State pensioners losing Winter Fuel Allowance being handed free £80 'supplement' payment

State pensioners who are set to lose their Winter Fuel Payments this year could be eligible for an £80 supplement from their local government. Northern Ireland pensioners could be hadned £80 payouts after the new Labour Party government scrapped universal £300 payouts.

Unite which has been leading the campaign for the UK government to reverse its decision to cut winter fuel payments, has welcomed the announcement by the Northern Ireland executive, that it will provide partial support for affected pensioners.

As part of this week’s overall spending announcement an additional £17 million has been made available to pensioners in Northern Ireland who are no longer entitled to the winter fuel payment. The additional money will not fully restore the £200 payment, as the total amount to reverse the cut was £44 million, but it will assist with fuel bills this winter. It is estimated that pensioners in Northern Ireland could receive around £80 each.

READ MORE Premier Inn customers furious over change to hotel bars that's 'needless'

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is a first step in moving away from this cruel policy. The Northern Ireland executive has listened and responded to Unite’s campaign. While it doesn’t fully restore winter fuel payments it will provide some much-needed respite to pensioners this winter.

“It is now imperative that the other devolved nations follow suit and take action to reverse the UK government’s cut for their pensioners. The winter fuel cut was a grave mistake which exposes vulnerable people to unnecessary risks as the cold weather approaches. The UK government must change course on this and acknowledge that picking the pockets of pensioners is wrong.”

The decision of Northern Ireland to supply additional funding is a substantial rebuff to the UK government. It also places greater pressure on the Scottish and Welsh government to take similar action to provide assistance to pensioners in their countries who have lost out.