Elderly missing out on winter fuel cash (From The Northern Echo)

Elderly missing out on winter fuel cash

6:30am Wednesday 13th January 2010 in

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THOUSANDS of pensioners across the region are missing out on crucial winter fuel payments because the Government’s benefits system is too complicated, the Liberal Democrats claim.

Research carried out by the party found that 230,600 people across the region are eligible for help with their fuel bills without knowing it.

Mike Barker, the Lib Dem candidate for Darlington at the forthcoming General Election, said: “The Labour Government has failed pensioners by creating a complicated system that makes it difficult for them to get the help they desperately need.”

The figures, which are released during one of the coldest winters for years, show that up to 1.7m pensioners across the UK have failed to claim Pension Credits, which would in turn qualify them for a Cold Weather Payment of £25 a week.

The unclaimed benefits total is £42.5m, say the Lib Dems.

The party’s shadow work and pensions secretary, Steve Webb, described the figures as scandalous, but Labour’s Pensions Minister Helen Goodman defended the Government’s record on payments.

Mr Webb said: “It is a scandal that pensioners on the breadline are missing out on these payments.

“Fuel prices are at an alltime high, making Cold Weather Payments all the more important to people already struggling on a poverty pension.

“Labour has failed pensioners by creating a complicated system that makes it difficult for them to get the help they desperately need.

“The Government should be making every effort to identify pensioners missing out and get them this extra cash.”

Mrs Goodman is MP for Bishop Auckland, where the Lib Dems say 7,340 pensioners have missed out on their claims.

She accused the Lib Dems of hypocrisy for attacking the Government the day after they announced plans to cut their own pensions policy commitments.

She said: “This is a bit rich from the party that ditched its pledge for a universal state pension only yesterday.

“We want pensioners to receive all the help they are entitled to, which is why we have simplified the claims process for Pension Credit.

“It only takes one simple phone call to claim and you can apply for Housing Benefit and Council Tax benefit at the same time.

“Each week we make 13,000 home visits to pensioners who request them and we have been continuing with these even in the adverse weather this month.”

■ Anyone interested in making a claim is asked to call 0800-99-1234.