Hughes - Up to 2,930 North Southwark and Bermondsey pensioners will miss out on Cold Weather Payments

5.16.00pm GMT Fri 15th Jan 2010

Up to 2,930 North Southwark and Bermondsey pensioners 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 nationally goes unclaimed by as many as 1.7m pensioners.

Commenting, local Liberal Democrat MP Simon Hughes said:

"With energy bills now higher than ever, cold winter payments are especially important this winter.

"The thousands of people in our constituency not taking the cold weather payments demonstrates just how overcomplicated Labour have made the whole system.

"If constituents are having trouble understanding what to do I would to get the payments they deserve I would encourage them to call my constituency office on 0207 232 2557 where they will always find a helping hand.

ENDS

Notes:

1. 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

2. 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_analysis/jun_2009/0708_PensionCredit.pdf