Pensioners have gathered at Stormont to protest at the removal of winter fuel payments.
More than 100 people marched to the steps of Parliament buildings on Monday to highlight what they described as a “failure to address the needs of older people”.
Carrying a banner stating ‘defend the winter fuel payment’, the crowd chanted that they would “stand up and fight back”.
It follows a move by the UK government to end the winter fuel allowance for all pensioners, including Northern Ireland.
Under the new plans, only pensioners on certain benefits will be able to get help.
Around 249,600 people in Northern Ireland are no longer eligible for the winter fuel payment following the British government’s decision to means-test the benefit.
Stormont Communities Minister Gordon Lyons said while he “strongly disagreed”, there was “no additional resource” which would allow the north to diverge from the UK decision.
The National Pensioners Convention (NPC) in Northern Ireland, which organised the rally, is calling on the Stormont Executive to “use its powers to reverse the move”.
The campaigners are also seeking to challenge the “failure to include any actions for the benefit of pensioners in the draft programme for government”.
John Martin from the NPC said they wanted to “send the strongest possible message to government”.
“Retired people who have worked a lifetime and receive a small work-related pension and are ineligible to claim pension credit as a result – are now to be denied the winter fuel payment,” he said.
“Pensioners in Northern Ireland have been totally failed by the Stormont Executive who simply copied the policy coming out from London.
“There are always alternatives – the cost of the winter fuel payment is less than one quarter of 1% of Stormont’s budget – are they saying they couldn’t find that amount to protect pensioners?
‘Our anger is compounded by the total exclusion of the needs of pensioners in the draft programme for government.
“We are protesting to demand action from Stormont for older people experiencing real hardship this winter.”
Commissioner for Older People Eddie Lynch also told the rally the “reality is this decision is going to lead to the deaths of many older people right across the UK this winter, we know that as a fact and that is the appalling consequences of this”.
He said there “is a responsibility on the ministers to look at this issue and see what else can be done”.
Stormont ministers have written to UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer to convey their “collective concern at your government’s intended changes to the winter fuel payments scheme”.
The said the decision “will have a direct and negative impact on a significant number of people of pension age in Northern Ireland who are already struggling with the consequences of the rise in the cost of living”.
