The union is hoping the review will overturn the Government’s decision to cut Winter Fuel Payments to all but the poorest pensioners.
The Government announced in July that from this winter onwards, only pensioners receiving Pension Credit would get the £200 cash. Previously, it was an automatic payout to people over the state pension age. Those pensioners that are still eligible for the payment started to receive it in their bank accounts this week.
Government modelling figures published last week show that the policy could plunge tens of thousands of pensioners into poverty.
Last week, Unite made a formal application to the High Court for leave to go forward with a full judicial review of the Government’s decision to cut Winter Fuel Payments.
Decision was ‘wrong on every level’
Sharon Graham, Unite’s general secretary, said: “Labour’s decision to pick the pocket of pensioners was wrong on every level. The Government has been given every opportunity to reverse its decision and it has failed to do so.
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“This is a rushed, ill-thought-out policy and the Government clearly failed to follow the proper legal measures before executing it. With winter approaching, the courts must now hold the Government to account and reverse this cruel cut as quickly as possible.”
The decision to advance the claim to the High Court was made after the Government made what Unite called “an unsatisfactory response” to the union’s pre-action protocol letter concerning its decision, which included the refusal to reverse the decision.
The High Court application is on behalf of Unite itself and 11 of its members, all of whom have now been excluded from receiving Winter Fuel Payments.
In its application to the High Court, Unite has requested that due to the worsening weather conditions and dropping temperatures, the application is considered to be an urgent matter and an early hearing is arranged.
