Energy News

Lib Dems: Move winter fuel payments to disabled families

Tuesday, 23 March 2010

By Daniel Barnes- daniel@consumerchoices.co.uk

Help with energy bills could go to families with disabled children under new Lib Dem plans.

The Liberal Democrats have pledged to raise the age for winter fuel payments to 65 and provide the benefit to those with disabilities.

The party claims the lifting of the minimum age to claim winter fuel payments from 60 to 65 would save £400 million a year by stopping 1.8 million people claiming the help on energy bills.

Half of the savings would be spent on extra winter support for severely disabled people, 21,000 families with disabled children and the terminally ill.

A Lib Dem spokesperson said: “We think this will save £400 million a year and we will be able to extend winter fuel payments to up to one million people, many who are not receiving help with energy bills now.”

Research by the charity Every Disabled Child Matters found that two-thirds of families with disabled children now struggle to pay their energy bills in wintertime.

Conservative leader David Cameron today pledged to keep the winter fuel payments as they stand and denied he would introduce means testing of the benefit.

“We would keep the winter fuel allowance. A Conservative government would keep the winter fuel allowance,” he said.

He also hit out at Labour claims the Conservatives would cut the benefit.

The Lib Dems plan to offer winter fuel payments to people receiving higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and families who have severely disabled children under the age of 5.

Currently winter fuel allowance is paid to people over 60 receiving state pensions or other benefits to help with the cost of energy bills and men over 60 can also apply.

The over 60s receive between £125 and £250 in winter fuel payments depending on their situation and the over 80s receive a pay-out of up to £400.

Under current government plans the minimum age for winter fuel will rise in ten years’ time to 65 along with pension age for women.