Unite union could take legal action over winter fuel payments

Union Unite has called on the government to reverse its decision to cut winter fuel payments to millions of pensioners or warn it could face judicial review.

The government announced plans to cut payments of between £100 and £300 paid to most pensioners in July, and this was confirmed in the Autumn Budget.

Labor has come under fire for what Chancellor Rachel Reeves said was a decision to close a £22bn deficit in the public finances.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said in a statement: “It is not too late for Labor to recognize the pain caused by this cruel policy, step back from picking pensioners’ pockets and do the right thing.”

Estimated 10 million retirees They will lose their winter fuel payments. This benefit will still be paid to those who receive pension credit or other means-tested benefits.

A pre-action letter sent to the government by Unite’s legal representative on October 29 argued that the government had not made a full assessment of how the decision would affect people.

Government Announced in September He said that a comprehensive evaluation was not made, but a more limited “equality analysis” was published.

The letter named Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall as a proposed defendant. Although the union demanded a response by November 7, the government technically has 14 days until November 12 to respond.

The government was asked for comment.

The letter also said the government had a legal duty to refer the cut to the Social Security Advisory Committee and was required by law to gather further evidence about the impact of the cut, particularly on vulnerable and disabled people.

The letter said the issue was “urgent” due to the increasingly cold weather and the significant impact on people “who are at risk of disconnection and increasingly having to give up adequate heating and cut other essential expenses”.

“People don’t understand, and I don’t understand how the Labor government is taking fuel benefits away from millions of pensioners as winter approaches,” Graham added.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer previously defended “difficult” decision cutting off universal benefit.

Sir Keir said the cut was necessary due to the country’s financial situation and accused previous governments of avoiding confronting issues such as the cost of winter fuel payments.

a couple in scotland there is also allowed pursue their own legal bids against both the UK and Scottish governments to cancel aid.