HUNDREDS of Scots pensioners could benefit from a £200 cash boost this winter.
One local authority will be rolling out a one-off winter fuel support payment in a matter of weeks.
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The grants will be provided from a newly approved £600k fuel poverty fund over the next two years.
Pensioners and vulnerable residents receiving certain benefits can claim the support payment, which will come off Council Tax bills.
Eligible locals will be contacted in the next few days.
The fund will also aid pension-age households who will not receive the winter fuel payment, as well as those who are exempt from paying Council tax due to members of their households being ‘severely mentally impaired’.
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Around 1,300 elderly and vulnerable Inverclyde locals will cash in on the new fund.
Inverclyde Council will use Housing Benefit records and Council Tax Reductions to pinpoint pension-age households that are not in receipt of one of seven qualifying benefits.
These include Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, Pension Credit Guarantee Credit, Pension Credit Savings Credit, ESA (Income Related), JSA (Income Based), Income Support and Child Tax Credit.
The Pension Age Fuel Poverty Payment will be doled out this year, and the proposal will also be reviewed alongside other support plans in the run-up to winter next year.
The funding has been taken from the local authority’s existing poverty fund and is in addition to its Warm Hand of Friendship initiative.
Since launching in 2022, the scheme has been extended for another three years to support community groups by providing people access to warm spaces and practical advice during the winter months.
Depute council leader, Councillor Natasha McGuire, who chaired the policy and resources committee, said: “With temperatures plummeting this week, this is a timely intervention to help older people during the harsh winter months and put some money back in their pockets.
“We have a proud record as a council of supporting the most vulnerable in society and in recent times have provided the likes of a one-off cost of living grant and established the Warm Hand of Friendship initiative, which has been extended for another three years.
“This new fuel poverty fund is another example of our commitment to helping those who need it the most during challenging times and enhancing our reputation as a caring and compassionate place for all.”
It comes as Scots pensioners have been left worried that they may miss out on winter fuel support after waiting times for pension credit claims double in one month.
The number of outstanding applications waiting to be processed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has soared after Scottish ministers announced that they would be ending universal winter payment back in August.
SNP chiefs said that the money, used to help elderly people heat their homes, would be means tested.
We previously told how Scots can boost State Pension payments before retirement age.
Who is eligible for Pension Credit?
ALMOST 125,000 people living in Scotland, are currently in receipt of Pension Credit, but thousands are still missing out.
Many older Scots may think they are not entitled to the means-tested benefit because they own their own home or savings.
On top of the cash payments, Pension Credit opens doors to other support, including the Winter Fuel Payment, help with housing costs, council tax and heating bills.
An award of just £1 a week can help provide access to additional benefits and support.
Qualifying Scots will also automatically receive a Winter Fuel Payment of up to £300 in line with the new eligibility change.
You could be eligible for Pension Credit if you are aged 66 or older and your income is below £218.15 a week if you’re single or £332.95 as a couple – this is known as the ‘guarantee’ part of the credit.
Even if your income is higher, you could claim if you meet other criteria, such as being a carer, having a disability, have extra housing costs such as service charges or have a child or young person living with you.
If you have more than £10,000 in savings, you could find that your payments may be cut or reduced – but it is still worth applying even if you only get a little extra each week.
You could get the “savings credit” part of pension credit if you reached State Pension age before April 6, 2016, and you saved some money for retirement, for example, a personal or workplace pension.
This is worth £17.01 for single people or £19.04 for couples.
