Islington's Elderly missing out on Cold Weather Payments thanks to Government red tape (Islington Liberal Democrats)

Islington Liberal Democrats <Islington_ld@cix.co.uk>

Islington's Elderly missing out on Cold Weather Payments thanks to Government red tape

January 20, 2010 12:00 AM

Bridget Fox talks to older people about the issues that affect them

Up to half Islington's pensioners are missing out on help with heating bills during this winter's big freeze. Up to 12,000 pensioners in Islington are not claiming cold weather payments triggered by the recent weather - along with 1.7 million pensioners across the country, according to new figures released 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 unaware they are eligible for the support. Here in Islington South and Finsbury, only 50% of eligible elderly people currently receive the payment to help heat their homes. The freezing conditions we have been experiencing recently make uptake of this payment even more essential.

Islington Council's Benefits Take-Up team has recently visited more than 1600 older residents, and, in partnership with Age Concern Islington, has helped pensioners to claim more than £4 million of the benefits they are entitled to. But Islington Liberal Democrats have said that despite this help from the council, the complicated pension benefits system introduced by the Labour Government is making it difficult for pensioners to claim the help they need.

Research from Age Concern shows that 6 out of 10 lower-income pensioners are put off claiming benefits by the complex system, with half finding means-testing too intrusive and 48% discouraged by the complicated forms - which run to 18 pages plus 19 pages of explanatory notes.

Bridget Fox, Islington and Finsbury's Shadow MP, commented:

"It is a scandal that across London thousands of pensioners are missing out on these payments. Fuel prices are at an all time high, making Cold Weather Payments all the more important. Over the last 11 years, the Labour Government has pocketed £17.5 billion that was supposed to go to struggling pensioners."

"I have been campaigning for the Lib-Dem sponsored Fuel Poverty Bill to be considered in Parliament again, so that everyone can afford to heat their homes. The Bill, which was thrown out because of lack of Labour government support, would have meant better insulated homes and lower fuel bills, benefiting the elderly and the poorest in society the most."

"The Government should be making every effort to identify pensioners who are missing out on the Cold Weather Payments and get them this extra cash, and should reconsider the Fuel Poverty Bill as a matter of urgency before more people suffer and become ill in these terribly cold winter months."

"Islington's Liberal Democrat council is committed to helping pensioners negotiate the Government's complex bureaucracy, so please get in touch with them so they can see if you are entitled to extra support."

To book a benefit check or visit, Islington residents can call the council on 0207 527 3696, or email benefitcheck@islington.gov.uk

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.