City of Lincoln Council has reaffirmed its commitment towards easing its residents’ high cost-of-living pressures and reducing inequality in the city following its full council meeting on 8 October.
Councillors agreed two amended motions at the meeting, one relating to the Winter Fuel Allowance and the other relating to the Two-Child Benefit Cap.
The incoming government has introduced means testing for Winter Fuel Allowance Payments and made it clear that they will lift the two-child limit when fiscal conditions allow, both of which further highlight the need for robust local action.
With the introduction of means testing for Winter Fuel Allowance, the first amended motion recognises that City of Lincoln Council is focusing on ensuring eligible pensioners are aware of the support available and can access this support.
City of Lincoln Council’s Let’s Reduce Inequality remains one of its strategic priorities and it continues to carry out work to help its residents through the cost-of-living crisis.
For example, the council distributed over £2 million to residents through the Household Support Fund to alleviate fuel and food poverty, including more than 13,000 individual awards.
It also offers one of the most generous Council Tax Support Schemes in the country and funds a full-time cost-of-living co-ordinator to ensure dedicated resources for tackling pensioner, child and fuel poverty.
The council will continue its proactive Pension Credit campaign, working with partners like the Lincolnshire Financial Inclusion Partnership to help pensioners access vital benefits, including Winter Fuel Payments.
Meanwhile, the Two-Child Benefit Limit, introduced by government in 2017, continues to impact 1.5 million children in the UK in households subject to the limit on benefit payments. This limit has cost families up to £3,235 per child, each year.
As stated in the second amended motion, while City of Lincoln Council recognises the significant financial black hole and number of unfunded policies and projects that the government now faces, it argues that lifting the Two-Child Benefit cap should be made a priority.
As a result, Cllr Tweddle, as leader of the city council, will write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the MP for Lincoln and urge for this benefit cap to be lifted, as soon as the economic conditions allow.
In the meantime, the council has started a publicity campaign with partners to assist families who are struggling with the cost-of-living challenge, to claim the full amount of benefits they are entitled to.
The council will also carry out an assessment of child poverty and its effect on Lincoln families in a refresh of the authority’s anti-poverty strategy.
Cllr Naomi Tweddle, leader of City of Lincoln Council, said:
“Our priority has always been to support the people of Lincoln, especially the most vulnerable. The City of Lincoln Council has an exceptional record on this. Whether it’s helping pensioners access Winter Fuel Payments or supporting families impacted by the Two-Child Limit, we remain committed to addressing the inequalities created by previous government decisions.
“We will continue to work with local partners and ensure every resource is available to help residents through this difficult time."
As always, City of Lincoln Council remains dedicated to supporting residents through these challenging times and continues to work with community partners, including Acts Trust, Local Motion, and Bridge Church, to provide essential cost-of-living assistance.