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Scottish government considers winter fuel payment change 'No plans' to abolish or means-test winter fuel payment
(about 3 hours later)
The Scottish government could replace the winter fuel allowance and cold weather payments when the benefits come under Holyrood control. Scotland's social justice secretary has promised not to abolish, cut or means-test the winter fuel payment when it comes under Holyrood control.
A paper on the future of social security said ministers were "considering the eligibility criteria" for the payments. Alex Neil made the pledge after a Scottish government paper said ministers were "considering the eligibility criteria".
The winter fuel allowance is currently available to everyone aged over 62. Alternative options included a fuel bill rebate or using the funding to provide warmer homes, the paper said.
The paper stresses the need for the government to "target resources" to make the most of a "limited budget". The government said no-one who receives the benefit currently would lose it.
Ministers could look at "converting the payments into a fuel bill rebate or using the funding to provide warmer, more affordable homes". The winter fuel allowance, of up to £300, is currently available to everyone aged over 62 and is paid to about 1.1m people in Scotland each year.
The SNP called for an increase in winter fuel payments last year, and pledged to protect the allowance in its 2015 election manifesto. In 2013/14 the total amount spent on winter fuel payments in Scotland was £186m.
The government paper on social security stresses the need to "target resources" to make the most of a "limited budget".
It said ministers could look at "converting the payments into a fuel bill rebate or using the funding to provide warmer, more affordable homes".
A Scottish government spokesperson later clarified the plans, saying: "There is absolutely no question of means-testing eligibility for the winter fuel allowance - or of removing entitlement from anyone who currently receives it.
"What the consultation is aimed at, is seeing if it would be appropriate and effective to use winter fuel payments as part of our aims to tackle fuel poverty and make homes warmer.
"This includes looking at whether it is appropriate to extend eligibility and if fuel bill rebates should be considered. We want to help people who are struggling to keep their homes warm - and this is one area we are exploring to see if are able to do that."
Last year the SNP called for an increase in winter fuel payments, and pledged to protect the allowance in its 2015 election manifesto.
There have previously been calls to means-test fuel payments. A BBC investigation found that across the UK only about 400 out of 12 million recipients had chosen to decline the allowance.There have previously been calls to means-test fuel payments. A BBC investigation found that across the UK only about 400 out of 12 million recipients had chosen to decline the allowance.
The new paper on social security in Scotland says "tackling fuel poverty" is "a priority for the Scottish government", but calls for views on how effective the payments are in doing this and what changes "might be welcomed".The new paper on social security in Scotland says "tackling fuel poverty" is "a priority for the Scottish government", but calls for views on how effective the payments are in doing this and what changes "might be welcomed".
Introduced in 1997, the allowance of up to £300 is paid out to about 1.1m people in Scotland each year. In 2013/14 the total amount spent on winter fuel payments in Scotland was £186m.