GLENROTHES RESIDENTS BENEFIT FROM WINTER FUEL PAYMENTS OVER CHRISTMAS

Published date : 07 Jan 2019

GLENROTHES RESIDENTS BENEFIT FROM WINTER FUEL PAYMENTS OVER CHRISTMAS

Last year, over 18,000 people in Glenrothes benefitted from Winter Fuel Payments, with some off-grid households – who face the highest heating costs in the country – benefitting from early payments.

Under the Scottish Government, over a million people across the country have received a winter fuel allowance as part of the new Social Security system in Scotland, which is worth a total of £3.3 billion.

A Winter Fuel Payment is an annual tax-free payment paid to older people during the winter months, as well as those on a variety of qualifying benefits.

While the UK Government at Westminster recently planned to scrap Winter Fuel Payments for those living in England and Wales, the Scottish Government has remained committed to delivering this important payment in Scotland.

Glenrothes MSP, Jenny Gilruth, has praised the newly devolved welfare policy, commenting:

“I am absolutely delighted that over 18,000 of my constituents have benefitted from fuel payments this winter in Glenrothes.

With new powers over social security, the Scottish Government is fighting for older people in Scotland, protecting the winter fuel allowance from Tory cuts.

Everyone should be able to heat their home, and keep themselves and their family warm over the festive period.

By maintaining the winter fuel allowance, the Scottish Government is committed to a society in which everybody is treated with dignity and respect – sadly not the concern of the UK Government at Westminster.”

Local Reporters, East Fife Mail, Glenrothes Gazette, St Andrews Citizen, Courier (Fife), COMMUNITY, HOUSING