MSP Siobhian Brown is urging people to check whether they are eligible for pension credits in order to ensure that they still have access to the Winter Fuel Payment.

The UK Government’s decision to means test the Winter Fuel Payment will result in many pensioners across Ayr, Prestwick & Troon unable to access the equivalent support in Scotland.

From this autumn, those not on pension credit or other means-tested benefits will no longer get the annual payments, worth between £100 and £300.

The responsibility for the payment is set to be transferred to the Scottish Government this winter and replaced with a Scottish equivalent.

In 2022/23 there were 991,431 recipients of the Winter Fuel Payment in Scotland, with 27,104 of them living in South Ayrshire.

Siobhian Brown, MSP for Ayr, Prestwick and Troon, is urging people to do what they can to ensure they get the support they are entitled to. 

She said: “The decision by the Labour UK government to means test the Winter Fuel Payment ensures that pensioners in Ayr, Prestwick and Troon will face the brunt of Westminster economic chaos.

“This decision, made in Westminster, has resulted in the Scottish Government’s budget being cut by an estimated £160m.

"The Labour UK government are continuing Tory austerity with catastrophic consequences for the Scottish devolution settlement. 

“I am strongly encouraging pensioners in my constituency to check if they are eligible for pension credit to ensure that if they are they will still receive the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment that they are entitled to.”

A UK Government spokesperson said: “This government is committed to pensioners: protecting the triple lock, keeping energy bills low through our Warm Homes Plan, and cutting NHS waiting lists – bringing real stability to people’s lives.

“We said we would be honest with the public and, given the dire state of the public finances we have inherited, this Government must take difficult decisions to fix the foundations of the economy.

“In these circumstances it is right that Winter Fuel Payments are targeted at those in most need, and we will work with Local Authorities to boost the uptake of Pension Credit, reaching the many pensioners who could still benefit from this year’s Winter Fuel Payments.”