System 'unfair', says Black Isle kidney patient in call for Highlands to be considered a special area after missing out on winter fuel payment
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A kidney dialysis patient is calling for the Highlands to be considered as a special area regarding the entitlement of winter fuel payments for pensioners, given its geographical location.
Keith Mackenzie, of the Black Isle, is annoyed that he will miss out on this year’s payment – which can amount to between £250 and £600 towards heating bills for those aged over 66 – as he was born less than four weeks after the qualifying date in September.
Mr Mackenzie, who spends eight hours every night on a home dialysis machine, is worried about heating costs as winter approaches.
But he will now have to wait until next winter before he is entitled to the payment and feels the system is unfair, given the cold weather arrives earlier in the Highlands than other areas in the UK.
“Although it is quite mild at the moment, I do put on the heating in the morning,” said Mr Mackenzie, who returned to the Highlands after living in London.
“Things will change next week, or the week after.”
But he said some pensioners qualifying for the payment in the south of the UK might not need to turn on their heating as soon as those in the north.
“It seems a bit of an unfair system really,” said Mr Mackenzie, of Culbokie. “Winter comes early in the Highlands and I do believe I should be entitled to these payments in view of the high energy costs we are all experiencing.”
Originally from Inverness, Mr Mackenzie was transferred by his former employer, the Bank of Scotland, to London over 30 years ago.
He has been undergoing peritoneal dialysis since April 2021 after doctors discovered his kidneys had failed when he was rushed to hospital after collapsing in the street.
His dialysis treatment started in Carshalton, Surrey, but he decided to return to the Highlands last year to be closer to family.
“I cannot praise the renal unit at Raigmore Hospital highly enough,” he said.
“And I am so grateful to NHS Highland for meeting the costs of the energy used on the machine. I understand not all health authorities help their patients on this.
“I am so grateful to the National Health Service as they are saving my life.”
Mr Mackenzie also joined the National Kidney Federation – a charity run by kidney patients for kidney patients – which campaigns for improvements to renal provision and treatment and provides information including advice about potential benefits and support.
Mr Mackenzie, turned 66 on October 22 – just over three weeks after the cut-off date of September 25 for the winter fuel payment.
“I don’t know why the government set that date,” he said.
“I have a friend who is 66 in November and he will not be getting it either.”
Mr Mackenzie will receive his state pension from this month and also has a pension from the bank plus other entitlements which help but he says he is careful about living costs and energy use – his home does not have gas and he relies on electricity.
“On the one hand, the government is giving me my state pension on November 22 and on the other hand I won’t be receiving any winter fuel payments this November – totally unfair,” he said.
He is keeping a close eye on how much electricity he uses and is also concerned about what will happen in April when the UK government reviews the help it is giving people towards energy costs.
Ian Blackford, MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber, sympathised with Mr Mackenzie’s situation.
“I fully support Mr Mackenzie’s point – this is a ridiculous situation,” he said.
“Someone with particular needs such as this needs to be receiving appropriate support.
“The system should be flexible enough so that people get the help they so desperately need – there has to be compassion at the heart of the benefits’ system.”
