No pensioners in Northern Ireland have yet received a promised £100 one-off fuel payment, despite an announcement in November 2024 by Communities Minister Gordon Lyons. The payment was intended to offset cuts to the Winter Fuel Payment that year, affecting an estimated 249,000 pensioners. SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan criticized the delay, calling it 'utter madness' and stating that the payment should have been made before Christmas. The Department for Communities has said payments will be made via existing channels before the end of March 2025.
The Communities Minister has revealed no pensioners in Northern Ireland have yet received a one-off £100 fuel payment - with an MLA branding the news "utter madness."
Announcing the new £100 payment in November 2024, the Minister said he wanted to ensure every pensioner has support to "stay warm and safe" during the winter. He added payments would be made by March 2025.Read more: Minister reveals how many PIP appeals have been successful in last five years The Communities Minister said: "Whilst the payment has not yet issued, my officials are working at pace to put in place the arrangements for making this payment via existing payment channels before the end of March 2025."
"Before Christmas people were told the £100 payment for pensioners missing out on the fuel payment would be rolled out and paid 'by March.' Now the Minister tells me they aim to get the money out 'by the end of March.' Not good enough!!! It really will be too little, too late for so many."
WINTER FUEL PAYMENT NORTHERN IRELAND PENSIONERS DELAY SOCIAL WELFARE
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