NI Executive's Winter Fuel Payment cash is welcome - but 'falls far short of vast need' - Andy Allen

​Andy Allen MLA also says the support must be rolled out quickly with winter fast approaching.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves made the benefit means tested earlier this year, meaning that only pensioners who receive certain benefits will be entitled to the £300 payment.

If Stormont had wanted to keep the payments, it would have costed over £40m per year – and that money would have had to come out of the Executive’s budget.

Ministers agreed to finance minister Caoimhe Archibald’s spending plans on Monday – except for health minister Mike Nesbitt.

The Department for Communities received a general allocation of £11.3 million, as well as an addition £17 million to provide further support to some pensioners losing out on winter fuel payments.

Ulster Unionist communities spokesperson Andy Allen said: “The Communities Minister previously indicated that 249,600 pensioners in Northern Ireland are no longer eligible to receive Winter Fuel Payments due to the last-minute decision by the UK Government to alter the eligibility criteria.

“This disgraceful decision left many low-income pensioner households, who were counting on this support, in a precarious situation.

“While the allocation of £17 million for winter fuel support is welcome, against the backdrop of a challenging Executive budget landscape, it falls far short of meeting the vast need.

“The Minister must urgently outline a clear plan for delivering this support, ensuring it reaches those most in need. With winter fast approaching, it is critical that this support is rolled out promptly, aligning with broader efforts to tackle fuel poverty”.

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said the budget had created “very difficult decisions” for all ministers. “It has been very, very tough, and I think it is absolutely fair to say that no minister has received what they have asked for in this, and therefore these processes are always about trying to work with ministers around what they can get,” she said.