Cash boost for elderly
Posted by Claire Ward, MP for Watford, at 14:06, Thu 8 January 2009:
Cash boost for elderly and vulnerable as cold snap sets in Pensioners and most vulnerable to get £25 cold weather payment As the cold snap continues across the country thousands of vulnerable people and pensioners are to receive extra cash from the Government to help with their fuel bills. The Cold Weather Payment, which has been trebled by the Government this year from £8.50 to £25 a week, is paid out every time the average temperature at a weather station falls, or is forecast to fall, to 0ºC or below for seven consecutive days. The payments have been welcomed by Watford MP, Claire Ward who said: " Hopefully this cash boost will make a real difference to elderly and vulnerable people who are worried about their fuel bills. Coming on top of the extra winter fuel payments, local pensioners in particular can turn up their heating during the cold snap without having to worry. James Purnell, Labours Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, said: The Labour Government is determined to do everything we can to help people make ends meet, particularly during the winter when they may be worried about their fuel bills. After the recent cold snap, millions of people will receive this extra money which is real help when they most need it. "Whereas the Tories are saying we should do nothing to help people in these tough times, over the last year we have announced extra help for vulnerable people on low incomes and pensioners and these cold weather payments are the latest example of that. ENDS Editors notes: The Cold Weather Payments are £25 for each spell of very cold weather in an area for Winter 2008/09. Payments are made automatically to those who qualify when the average temperature at a weather station falls, or is forecast to fall, to 0ºC or below for seven consecutive days. There is no need to claim. Those eligible to receive Cold Weather Payments are pensioners, severely disabled people and families with a child under five or a severely disabled child, receiving the following benefits: Pension Credit. Income Support. Income-based Jobseekers Allowance. Income-related Employment and Support Allowance. The Government is this year spending an extra £575 million on winter fuel payments for pensioners, with £250 for those in households with someone 60 or over, and £400 for those with someone 80 and above.
Comments
Commenting on this message is now disabled.
Posted by Christopher Thornton, 14:50, Thu 8 January 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #
Your Tories comment is jingoistic and actually incorrect and misleading. The sooner I get to vote out a Party lapdog, the better.
Posted by Chris King, 23:32, Thu 8 January 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #
I will never ever vote Labour again.
Posted by Jeannie Mehta, 23:35, Thu 8 January 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #
I don't want to vote out an MP who is actually working for us and delivering locally. I want to keep her in place as she knows the constituency well. Thanks for the information re cold weather payments. Many people will be very thankful for this.