Kingston pensioners who have lost out on the winter fuel payment could receive £300 in vouchers to help with their energy bills.

Kingston Council is stepping in to offer the support to those who narrowly miss out on the allowance this year, after Labour's controversial changes to the scheme.

The cash will come from the Household Support Fund, which the government extended in September, with Kingston receiving £1.73m in 2024/25. A new council report said the plans aim to ease 'financial hardship' for low-income pensioners.

The winter fuel payment was previously automatically paid to people over 65 to help with their energy bills in November and December. A total of 16,802 Kingston households received the allowance in 2022/23, according to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

But the government announced in July that the payment, worth £200 or £300, would only be made to those over 65 who receive pension credit or certain other benefits.

In a bid to support those at the sharpest end of this decision, the council has decided to offer £300 in vouchers to households with an income of less than £1,000 above the threshold to claim pension credit. It estimates that 163 households in Kingston are eligible, with the support set to cost £48,900 overall. It will write to these households to invite them to apply for the vouchers.

The council has also identified 273 households that are set to miss out on the winter fuel payment as they are not claiming pension credit, despite potentially being eligible for it. It is sending letters to these households to warn them of this. Help with applying for pension credit is available in Kingston libraries.