Estimated 3,000 Eastbourne pensioners missing out on Cold Weather Payments (Eastbourne and Willingdon Liberal Democrats)

Eastbourne and Willingdon Liberal Democrats <office@eastbournelibdems.org.uk>

Estimated 3,000 Eastbourne pensioners missing out on Cold Weather Payments

January 16, 2010 12:40 AM

Over 3,000 Eastbourne 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 according to the governments own figures goes unclaimed by as many as 3,285 pensioners in Eastbourne, and a staggering 1.7m pensioners across the United Kingdom

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Campaigner, Stephen Lloyd said: "It is a scandal that so many local pensioners are missing out on these payments, worth over £80,000 in total per week. Heating prices are at a high level making Cold Weather Payments all the more important to the elderly residents of Eastbourne & Willingdon having to struggle with the freezing temperatures we've experienced over the last couple of weeks."

Stephen added: "The Government has failed pensioners by creating a complicated system that makes it difficult for them to get the help they desperately need. The Department of Work & Pensions should be making every effort to identify local pensioners who are missing out and get them this extra cash."