Kingston’s most vulnerable older residents are set to get help with fuel support from the council this winter.

Since the UK government announced its decision to end winter fuel payments for pensioners not eligible for Pension Credit, Kingston Council is now creating some plans to help lessen the impact on the most affected people in the area.

The council is identifying pensioner households earning less than £1,000 above the Pension Credit threshold.

They can claim a one-time payment of up to £300 from Kingston’s Household Support Fund.

So far, 159 households have been identified.

Those already in receipt of Pension Credit will continue to receive winter fuel payments from the government.

The council is contacting 190 households in the borough who are potentially eligible for the benefit and are not claiming it, to ensure they apply before the December 21 deadline.

Letters are being sent to these homes this month.

The council's adult social care teams are helping people with low incomes who receive care to check if they are getting all the benefits they are entitled to and to make sure they are managing their money well.

Kingston is also helping the Department for Work and Pensions with its Pension Credit campaign by sharing information through different networks to encourage more people to apply for Pension Credit.

As well as this the council is working with the voluntary and community sector to identify residents who are struggling with their bills this winter.

Kingston Council’s Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care and Health Cllr Sabah Hamed said: “It’s really important we step in to support the elderly and most vulnerable in our community.

“As soon as the government announced its decision to remove winter fuel payments from older people not eligible for Pension Credit, we immediately took action to protect our poorer local pensioners most at risk of being pushed further into fuel poverty. 

“We will always put the elderly and most vulnerable at the centre of our priorities and I’m determined we will get support to those who most need it ahead of the winter.”

At a council meeting on October 15, councillors from different political parties all agreed to support a motion brought by the Conservative opposition group about providing winter fuel support for vulnerable pensioners.

The motion stated that councillors would write a joint letter to the Chancellor asking her to undo the cuts.