Age Sector Platform has welcomed the announcement that £100 will be paid to thousands of pensioner households in Northern Ireland this winter by the NI Assembly; but warns that the Westminster Government must not be ‘let off the hook’ following its decision to cut the Winter Fuel Payment this year.
Age Sector Platform’s ‘Fight the Winter Fuel Cut’ campaign has gained over 17,000 signatures in opposition to the Coalition Government’s decision to cut the Winter Fuel Payment by £50-£100 this year; an average of over 100 signatures every day since the campaign was launched in June 2011.
Patricia Donald, Chair of Age Sector Platform, commented: “We know from the Northern Ireland Pensioners Parliament held earlier this year that keeping warm in winter was the number one concern for older people from across the province, with three out of four (76%) older people saying it was a worry for them. Bearing this in mind, we are delighted that our...
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On Tuesday 22 November 2011, an opposition-day motion was tabled by the DUP calling on the UK Government to review its decision to cut the Winter Fuel Payment this year by £50 for those aged between 60 and 79, and by £100 for those aged 80 and over.
The debate was introduced by Nigel Dodds MP, who spoke passionately about the topic, describing it as a matter of "life and death". He told MPs: "Fuel poverty and the effects of cold winter weather on the elderly are a lethal combination."
Mr Dodds also said: "At a time when people are dying at such levels among our older population, it is appalling that this cut should be aimed at this section of our population." Mr Dodds urged the House to support his party's motion calling on the government to review the impact of its decision and to announce in the Autumn Statement "urgent steps to ease the burden on pensioner households".
Work and Pensions Minister Steve Webb accused Labour of announcing a series...
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Almost 15,000 signatures have now been collected since the campaign began. This includes online signatures and signed postcards. A delegation of older people from Age Sector Platform wil travel to Westminster on Wednesday (26th October) to hand the petition over to Pensions Minister Steve Webb MP.
If you would like a batch of postcards to distribute please phone 028 9031 2089 to request them.
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Over 9,000 signatures have now been collected since the campaign began. This includes online signatures and signed postcards.
If you would like a batch of postcards to distribute please phone 028 9031 2089 to request them.
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Almost 6,000 signatures have been collected since the campaign began in June 2011. This includes online signatures and signed postcards.
If you would like a batch of postcards to distribute please phone 028 9031 2089 to request them.
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The UK Coalition Government will cut the Winter Fuel Payment by £50 for over 60's and £100 for over 80's this year (2011). Considering the extremely cold winters we have experienced over recent years, the rising cost of energy and the increasing number of 'excess' deaths relating to cold related illnesses, this is a scandal. Please show your support by signing the petition.
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