[ad_1]
The Scottish government has confirmed it will no longer provide winter fuel payments to all pensioners.
The once universal benefit will now be means-tested and replicate a UK government decision.
The introduction of a replacement Scottish benefit has also been delayed.
It comes amid reports that Finance Secretary Shona Robison has written to cabinet colleagues and ordered them to freeze all unnecessary spending to help pay for public sector pay deals.
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville announced the move on Wednesday and said ministers had been left with “no choice” due to the cuts made south of the border.
In July, Chancellor Rachel Reeves revealed the payment – worth between £100 and £300 – would be means-tested in England and Wales, where only those on benefit will qualify.
It is expected to reduce the number of pensioners in receipt of the payment from 11.4 million to 1.5 million, saving the Treasury some £1.4bn this financial year.
The payment is a devolved matter in Scotland and Northern Ireland, however the UK government’s approach is expected to cause up to a £160m cut to Scottish funding in 2024-25.
The Scottish government had intended to replace the winter fuel payment this year with its own Pension Age Winter Heating Payment (PAWHP).
That has now been delayed until 2025-26, with Ms Somerville claiming the anticipated cuts amount to as much as 90% of the PAWHP funding.
The Scottish government said initial analysis suggests the caseload in Scotland will decrease by around 900,000 in 2024-25 based on current pension credit uptake, and will now support up to 130,000 people in receipt of pension credit and other means-tested benefits.
Ms Somerville said: “Despite all efforts to review our financial position we have been left with no choice but to follow the UK government and restrict…
[ad_2]
