Those missing winter fuel payments to get vouchers

Pensioners who are not eligible for winter fuel payments are being offered free supermarket vouchers by some councils in West Sussex.

Adur District Council and Worthing Borough Council said in January they would offer vouchers worth £200 to 200 households that fell just outside the eligibility criteria for pension credit.

The vouchers are from Huggg, an organisation that helps local authorities distribute support.

Dom Ford, Worthing's cabinet member for communities, culture, and leisure, said the vouchers could be used in most major supermarkets and would "help take some of the worry away".

Funding for the initiative comes from the household support fund - money from central government to help residents struggling with the cost of living.

The councils said since September 2024 their teams had contacted almost 300 homes that were eligible for pension credit, but did not claim it, to let them know they could continue to receive winter fuel payments.

Sharon Sluman, Adur's cabinet member for communities and wellbeing, said its team would also signpost people towards other support.

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