Thank you to constituents who have been in touch with me regarding the government’s decision to means test winter fuel payments. I am grateful to everyone who has taken the time to write to me or speak to me directly regarding their concerns.

I also wanted to address this issue publicly, so that anyone concerned can see my views and the facts of the new policy.

The winter fuel payment will now target money at those who are most in need. The payments have not been scrapped altogether. Those pensioners who are most vulnerable, and are already in receipt of pension credit, will still get every penny they need. By limiting these payments to those who truly need it, we will end the years of millionaires receiving benefits when so many others, including pensioners, are struggling to get by. This was the only government payment that was not previously means tested and given the economic situation our country faces, this is the difficult but fair choice.

However, I understand that not everyone in receipt of this payment can easily afford the change. Wherever there is means testing, there are borderline cases, and it is those people that I am determined to help however I can.

To do this I will be putting out advice, and offering support sessions to ensure every pensioner in Halifax gets every single penny they’re entitled to. Many people struggle by without receiving their due pension credit or other benefits available to those who need them. If you or anyone you know of is going to struggle with their bills this winter, please do let me know and I’ll do all I can to ensure that you are supported.

Winter Fuel Payments will continue for anyone in receipt of Pension Credit. We know that up to 880,000 pensioners are not claiming the Pension Credit to which they are rightly entitled, and this could be worth up to an extra £3,900 a year in retirement. I am working to ensure every eligible pensioner in Halifax claims their Pension Credit which will unlock winter fuel payments and other benefits. I encourage you, your friends, family and neighbours to check if you or they are eligible by visiting the following link: www.gov.uk/pension-credit/eligibility or by calling the Pension Credit claim line at 0800 99 1234. If you need support from me and my office throughout this process, please do let me know.

More broadly, government is committed to protecting the triple lock on pensions over the lifetime of this parliament. The triple lock saw the new state pension rise by over £900 this year, and a further rise will be announced at the budget next month. And because of our commitment to the triple lock, pensions are projected to increase by over £1,000 in the next five years.

In addition, we are supporting pensioners through our Warm Homes Plan which will encourage investment in insulation and low carbon heating and upgrade millions of homes over this parliament. The government is also prioritising rebuilding our public services especially the NHS, which many pensioners and others rely on. We have committed to reducing NHS waiting times to 18 weeks, ensuring people can see their GP and rebuilding our NHS.

This government is absolutely determined to do everything possible to protect the poorest in society. We have announced that we will extend the Household Support Fund, providing £500m of targeted support for those in the greatest need to help people most in need with the cost of their energy, food and water.

This is not a decision that the Labour government wanted or expected to make. I am very angry that the previous Conservative government knowingly overspent on departmental budgets making a series of unfunded spending commitments and leaving a £22bn black hole in the country’s finances this year which required immediate action. As a consequence, the government has been forced to make in-year spending cuts in order to tackle the in-year deficit. If no action had been taken to repair the Conservatives’ black hole then it would have put the UK’s financial stability at risk, possibly leading to higher prices, mortgages and rents. When Liz Truss lost control of the economy it was ordinary people, including pensioners, who paid the price.

I will always be honest with constituents about the challenges we face, and the government will always be open and transparent with the public about the state of the finances and the tough choices we must take to protect our economic stability. Our ultimate aim is to bring stability back to our economy and to people’s lives. The government will set out more details about its plan when the next Budget is delivered on the 30 October. There will be more tough choices ahead on spending, welfare and tax. We are not going to pretend otherwise. This is what is necessary if we are going to rebuild Britain and create a future for everyone in this country to look forward to.

I appreciate this is not may not be what you wanted to hear, but I wanted to explain the governments approach, and most importantly, set out what more I’ll be doing to support those pensioners who need it.

Please play your part by putting me in touch with those who need help this winter, I and my office are always ready to help.