BASILDON Council’s Labour leader has admitted it is “not in a position to offer additional money” to pensioners who will miss out after the winter fuel payment was cut.

Gavin Callaghan insisted the council is preparing to ensure all pensioners get the support they need this winter, but will be unable to offer additional financial support after the Labour Government scaled back the winter fuel scheme.

As a result, “only the most vulnerable” who claim Pension Credit will be eligible meaning just 4,000 people will receive the payment - rather than the 15,000 who received it last winter.

Mr Callaghan said: “We know there is a budget coming in October, and, as the Prime Minister himself has said, it’s going to be a painful one. It will get worse before it gets better.

“Basildon is not immune to these challenges; we know it’s going to be tough.

“The Winter Fuel Allowance is the benefit with the lowest take-up rate across the country - that needs to change, and it needs to change now. The council is preparing to be able to help ensure all pensioners get the support they are entitled to this winter.

“The council is not in a position to offer any additional money, but we know there will be around 1,000 pensioners in the borough who are eligible that are not currently claiming it.

“We want to raise awareness and help as many get enrolled as possible.”

The leader of the Conservatives at Basildon Council, Andrew Baggott, has revealed his party is set to submit a motion later this month to ensure pensioners receive support in the borough.

He said: “We have a responsibility. It is all well saying we don’t have the resources. But we had Covid, and we found the resources as it was classed as important, like this is. Not having resources is code for, it is not important enough in our heads.

“They found the money for employing a chief executive, resources to borrow money and buy the Westgate Centre, and they find resources for all the projects they want to do.

“It is a bit double standards. It sends a very poor message for pensioners worried, and wondering how they are going to pay bills. The National Government stabs them in the back, then the fall back is your Local Authority, where you hope to get some sort of support, then you get a message of tough.”