The decision to restrict entitlement to the winter fuel payment will “cause excess deaths amongst pensioners”, an MLA has warned.
On Friday, communities minister Gordon Lyons announced that cuts introduced by the UK Government would extend to Northern Ireland.
Mr Lyons said he “strongly disagreed” with the decision but said there was “no additional resource” which would allow the region to diverge from the UK decision.
Making the announcement Mr Lyons said: “The estimated additional cost to the block grant of maintaining universal entitlement to a Winter Fuel Payment in Northern Ireland for winter 2024/25 is £44.3 million, and this does not include any additional delivery or staffing costs.
“Regrettably, there is no additional resource available in the budget to allow us to diverge from the UK Government decision without significantly cutting other public services.
“I have made clear to the secretary of state for work and pensions my total opposition to this decision and outlined the detrimental impact it will have on many people in Northern Ireland. I am committed to ensuring that people can access all the support to which they are entitled and would encourage anyone affected by these changes to check their benefit entitlement.”
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll has said that the decision “will cause excess deaths amongst pensioners”.
“This is a cruel and unforgivable attack on some of our most vulnerable,” he said.
He added that pensioners would be condemned to a winter of misery.
“Every year, fuel poverty leads to thousands of excess winter deaths,” he said.
“The £41m it would take to maintain the Winter Fuel Payment is significantly lower than the £71m Stormont hands corporations each year through industrial de-rating.”
SDLP MLA Mark Durkan also expressed concern saying that “thousands of pensioners will suffer”.
Mr Durkan said that the Executive “had the power not to introduce this punitive and punishing measure”.
“Every winter hundreds of old people here die because of the cold weather and related conditions,” said the Foyle MLA.
“Many others struggle to heat their homes, wrapping themselves in blankets and heavy clothing in an attempt to keep warm. I have even heard stories of pensioners forced to stay in bed all day because they simply can’t afford to turn the heating on. Surely our older generation deserve better than this.”
Mr Durkan said “we are all aware of the difficult financial situation facing the Executive” but added that “they have repeatedly shown themselves incapable of making a decision”.
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew said it was deeply concerning that one of the first acts of this new British government was to cut fuel payments for pensioners.
“People are already struggling with the cost of living including increased fuel and energy bills,” he said.
“The new British government needs to leave behind the failed Tory austerity policies of the past 14 years and work to protect workers and families and public services.
“It is vital that the Executive continues to do all in its power to protect those most in need.”
Age NI said it was “profoundly disappointed”.
“This decision, we believe, will leave so many older people not receiving the vital help they need to stay warm this winter,” said chief executive Linda Robinson.
“We know from listening to many older people that they are already extremely anxious about the winter and how they will manage to stay warm. Our fear is that more older people will have to choose between heating their home or eating.”
