Cold Weather Payments

Written by Cllr Jacquie Bell and published in Letter to Editor, East Lothian Courier on Sun 17th Jan 2010

The recent cold snap has highlighted the issue of pensioners and others on low incomes who are wary to turn up the heating to keep warm because of costs and are thus at risk of hypothermia.

The current system for cold weather payments is complicated. The £25 a week payments are issued automatically when temperatures are below zero for 7 consecutive days. However, they go unclaimed by as many as 1.7 million in the UK and 2000 in the East Lothian area who may be entitled to them.

To get the payments you need to be on Income Support or Pension Credit but many people, particularly pensioners do not claim these benefits. The claims system is complicated. This is why Liberal Democrats would advocate a Citizens' Pension set at the figure that the Government sees as the minimum income needed to live on. This is above State Pension level.

In addition many people fail to claim passport benefits to Pension Credit like Attendance Allowance.

Its important to make claim to the benefits you deserve and are entitled to. Your local CAB/|Department of Work and Pensions Office/ Welfare Rights Team can assist in making sure that you have the correct benefits.