‘Budget set out measures to begin fixing the NHS and rebuild Britain,’ says leader of West Norfolk’s Labour Group Francis Bone

It’s the turn of Labour Group leader Francis Bone to write this week’s Friday Politics…

In last week’s budget, the first Labour budget in 14 years, the Chancellor of the Exchequer – Rachel Reeves – set out measures to begin fixing the NHS and rebuilding Britain, while ensuring working people don’t face higher taxes in their payslips.

The budget has protected the pay of working people, with over three million workers having their pay boosted by the increase in the minimum wage. Pensions, too, are likely to rise by £470 per annum.

There has been an increase in the Employment Allowance to support small businesses and the biggest increase in Carer’s Allowance eligibility since its introduction.

Labour has committed to prioritise investment in education and the NHS, with £1.4bn to rebuild 500 schools. Another £500m will provide 5,000 new social homes and £500m more will go into repairing local roads and filling a million potholes.

Labour faces many challenges after 14 long years of Tory austerity left public services on their knees, with NHS waiting lists at record lengths and mortgages having skyrocketed.

Some tough decisions have had to be made after a £22bn Tory black hole was discovered, which has led to means-testing of Winter Fuel Payments.

Local Labour activists and councillors have been knocking on doors to talk to residents about the budget and encouraging pensioners to apply for pension credit. Nearly a million low-income pensioners are eligible to claim pension credit but last year a staggering £1.5bn of pension credit went unclaimed – amounting to a loss of around £1,900 per year for every eligible household that did not claim it.

Pension Credit can be applied for via the government website – www.gov.uk – or by phone at 0800 99 1234 (Monday to Friday, 8am-6pm).

Pensioners need to have been entitled to Pension Credit for at least one day in the week of September 16-22 to be eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment this winter. The last date for backdating a claim for Pension Credit is December 21, assuming that the claimant met the entitlement conditions throughout the previous three months.

Further advice has been given by Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis, who said: “It’s a national tragedy that nearly a million eligible low-income pensioners are still missing out…

“For most single pensioners, you will need a total weekly income, including from savings, under around £218 (pensioner couples under £333) to be very likely to qualify… but even with a weekly income up to £235 (couples £350) there is still a chance that some may be eligible.

“Pension credit can pay out £1,000s a year, but even if it’s only going to pay you thruppence, still claim it… once you get it, it’s a gateway benefit that opens the door to other entitlements – including council tax reductions, free TV licences (if aged over 75), dental and optical support.”

I asked a question at full council last week to see how we can further help our low-income pensioner residents to claim pension credit and possibly get the winter fuel allowance.

In response, Cllr Jo Rust said: “Our Lily team actively promotes this, and we also have two members of staff who can actually go out and support residents to make applications.

“The important thing for all of us who know our residents and communities is to refer them either to Lily or to our council information centre for support.”

The Lily team is a service from West Norfolk Council that helps adults of all ages and can be contacted on 01553 616200.