Pension Credit campaign 'flops' in Wirral

Wednesday, 21 May, 2025

Local News

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Latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have confirmed that attempts to help more pensioners with Pension Credit have flopped.

Following the announcement in July 2024 that Winter Fuel Payments would be cut for all pensioners except those in receipt of Pension Credit, the DWP launched a nationwide campaign to encourage more pensioners to apply for Pension Credit.

Between August 2024 and the start of Winter Fuel Payments being paid out in November, just 179 more pensioners across Wirral and Ellesmere Port were approved for Pension Credit.

Councillor Vida Wilson (Conservative, Moreton and Saughall Massie) said: “Last summer, 58,801 pensioners in Wirral were told they would lose their Winter Fuel Payments unless more of them applied for Pension Credit.

“At the time, a majority of councillors urged the Government to rethink the plans, highlighting the complexity of the application process for Pension Credit including the 243 questions that pensioners were asked to answer.

“The latest figures show that just 179 more pensioners across the whole of Wirral and Ellesmere Port managed to apply for and receive Pension Credit and keep their Winter Fuel Payments.

“This week’s u-turn, which may be too late for any changes this year, must also learn the lessons from their failed Pension Credit campaign and make the whole process easier and less intrusive.”
- Councillor Vida Wilson

Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK said: "We welcome the PM's comments and his commitment to change, but of course the devil is always in the detail, and we postpone judgement until we hear more.

“Means-testing Winter Fuel Payment in the way the Government announced last summer resulted in many pensioners on low incomes missing out on money they simply couldn’t afford to lose and at Age UK we saw the results in the winter just gone: very significant numbers of older people too frightened to turn on their heating when it was cold, making life utterly miserable for them and putting their health at risk.”

Pension Credit – how to apply: Pension Credit: How to claim - GOV.UK

Tell us your views on the Winter Fuel Payments

Do you agree with the decision to withdraw the Winter Fuel Payment?

Yes

Unsure

What do you think will be the main three impacts of the withdrawal of Winter Fuel Payments on pensioners (choose three of the following):

Cut back on heating and energy use

Cut back on food and other household costs

Slip into debt

Use savings to make up the shortfall

Increase isolation at home

Increase in ill health

The Government has refused to rule out further changes in the October Budget. Which of the following would affect you:

Removal or restrictions on the pensioner bus pass

Removal or reduction in the 25% Single Person Discount for Council Tax

In order to make this survey representative, how did you vote in the 2024 General Election?

Labour

Conservative

Reform

Liberal Democrat

Green Party

Didn't vote

Can't remember

Other…

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And, thinking ahead to the next election to choose your local councillors, which would you support next time? On the scale of 0-10, 0 means there is no chance of voting for the party and 10 means you would be certain to vote for the party?

Questions	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Conservative	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Labour	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Liberal Democrat	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Reform	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Green	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Independent	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Other	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10

On the scale of 0-10, 0 means there would be no chance of you voting for the party and 10 means you would be absolutely certain to vote for the party.

This question contains special category data relating to your political opinion that may be shared with the wider Conservative Party for the purposes of Democratic Engagement with your permission. Please only answer this question if you consent to the processing of this data and sharing it with Conservative Party in accordance with our Data Protection and Privacy policy. If you do not answer this question then this data will not be shared.

Finally, is there anything else you would like to say about the Government's changes to the Winter Fuel Payments?

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Cllr. Vida Wilson

Local Conservative Councillor for Moreton West & Saughall Massie

Re-elected in May 2023 with an increased vote

Council appointee to the Saughall Massie Conservation Area Advisory Committee

Help our campaign Become a member Be a councillorVida is one of our three local Conservative councillors in Moreton West & Saughall Massie, working with Gary Bennett and Colin Baldwin.Vida first became involved in local politics with Chris Blakeley, fighting to save Fender

Keep Winter Fuel Payments

Sign our petition Help and advice from Age UK Pension Credit info In spite of promises they made before the election, the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, and Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, have announced they are scrapping Winter Fuel Payments for the majority of p