UP TO 8,000 PENSIONERS IN STOCKPORT WILL MISS OUT ON COLD WEATHER PAYMENTS

5.28.00pm GMT Tue 12th Jan 2010

An estimated 7,792 pensioners in Stockport will miss out on Cold Weather Payments triggered by the recent weather, according to analysis of Government figures by Cheadle MP Mark Hunter and Hazel Grove MP Andrew Stunell.

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 almost 8,000 local pensioners in our area. The latest figures show that an estimated 15,585 people in Stockport claim cold winter payments, meaning that a third of people entitled to claim across Stockport are missing out.

Local Lib Dem MPs Mark Hunter and Andrew Stunell have teamed up to promote the payments and have encouraged all those entitled to claim it. Anyone is entitled to receive Cold Weather Payments when temperatures are below zero degrees Celsius for seven consecutive days if they claim a qualifying benefit. If those entitled do not automatically receive a Cold Weather payment, it is crucial that they inform their pension centre or Jobcentre Plus as soon as possible.

Commenting, Mark 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."

Commenting, Andrew said:

"This complicated system makes it difficult for pensioners 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."

ENDS