|
|
Rt. Hon. Sir Alan Beith MPLiberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Berwick Upon TweedWorking for you and the Berwick upon Tweed Constituency all year roundin Northumberland and in Westminster |
|
Northumberland's pensioners missing out on vital financial help, says Beith
January 13, 2010 6:00 PM
Over 2,500 pensioners in the Berwick upon Tweed constituency will miss out on Cold Weather Payments triggered by the recent weather, according to analysis of Government figures by the Liberal Democrats.
Cold Weather Payments of £25 a week are paid to people on low incomes who receive a qualifying benefit, such as Pension Credit, which goes unclaimed by as many as 1.7m pensioners across the UK.
Commenting, Liberal Democrat MP Sir Alan Beith said:
"It is a scandal that pensioners on the breadline are missing out on these payments.
"Fuel prices are at an all time high, making Cold Weather Payments all the more important to people already struggling on a poverty pension.
"The Government has failed pensioners by creating a complicated system that makes it difficult for them to get the help they desperately need.
"The Government should be making every effort to identify pensioners who are missing out and get them this extra cash."
In the NE66 postcode area, the Met Office has notified the Department of Work and Pensions that there have been two periods of very cold weather between 1 November 2009 and 12 January 2010 which have triggered cold weather payments. People who have qualified for Pension Credit in this period are therefore entitled to an extra £50 payment, which could help towards heating bills. For people in the NE71 postcode that rises to four periods and £100.
People aged 60 or over can find out whether they are entitled to receive pension Credit by calling the Pension Service on 0800 99 1234 or textphone 0800 169 0133. Lines are open 8.00 am to 8.00 pm Monday to Friday and 9.00 am to 1.00 pm on Saturdays.
When phoning, please have the following information ready:
• your National Insurance number
• information about your savings, investments and income
• details of the account into which you would like any Pension Credit payments to be paid
An adviser will help with applications for Pension Credit and give information about what happens next. The Pension Service can also help with applications for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit at the same time as applications for Pension Credit.
People can get Cold Weather Payments worth £25 when temperatures are below zero degrees Celsius for seven consecutive days when they claim a qualifying benefit. http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Inretirement/DG_10018668
Pension Credit is a qualifying benefit yet Department for Work and Pensions figures for 2007-08 (the most recent available) show that between 1.1m and 1.7m pensioners who are poor enough to qualify for Pension Credit do not claim, meaning they won't receive Cold Weather Payments to help with fuel bills during the recent cold snap http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/income
What would you like to do next?
-
Subscribe for updates
Follow the party's activity on...
- Twitter:
- Liberal Democrats
- Facebook:
- Liberal Democrats
- YouTube:
- Liberal Democrats