Fears have been raised that thousands of north and north-east pensioners will miss out on early winter fuel payments next year because ministers are “dragging their feet.”
The SNP was last night accused of failing to make progress on a manifesto pledge to offer early payment of the cash to 80,000 pensioners in mainly rural areas.
Scottish Labour said the delay to the scheme was “deeply concerning” as it emerged that the Scottish Government has still not contacted Westminster to discuss the switch.
Payments of between £100 and £300 are automatically made to every household each December if a pensioner lives in the home, but it has long been argued that people who are off the gas grid should be able to get the money early to stock up before the temperature plummets.
The SNP promised to use new powers, which are currently being devolved, to make the change, and said it would benefit almost 80,000 pensioners.
But following questions from Labour MP Danielle Rowley, the UK Department for Work and Pensions Minister Guy Opperman has now revealed that the Scottish Government has “not approached my department on its plans”.
Scottish ministers previously said the switch would take about 18 months to arrange, so Labour now believes there will not be enough time to introduce them next winter.
The party’s social security spokesman Mark Griffin MSP said: “By the SNP’s own admission, this change would help 80,000 pensioners, particularly those in rural areas more likely to be suffering cold, damps winters of fuel poverty.
“Yet it seems the SNP ministers are content to drag their heels and not introduce this important measure – despite it being a commitment in their manifesto.
“They have already failed to deliver it for this winter – one of the worst on record – and now it seems it will not be delivered in time for next winter either.”
“It’s time for the SNP to spell out when these early payments will actually be delivered.”
However, Social Security Minister Jeane Freeman said: “We have never put a timescale on the delivery of early payments to off-gas grid recipients.
“First and foremost we are determined to ensure a safe and secure transfer of each of the 11 devolved benefits, including winter fuel payments.
“The legislation necessary to achieve this is currently going through parliament and we are on track to deliver all devolved benefits in this parliamentary term, with the first, Carers Supplement, due later this year.”
