Nick says “Keep the Heating On” as Government Increases Fuel Payments During Cold Snap
Nick today welcomed the news that thousands of families in the North East would get £75 extra towards the cost of their heating, as the Government pays out millions in Cold Weather Payments.
Around £200 million in payments has been racked up so far this winter, with just over £70 million of this over the cold New Year’s weekend.
Nick said: “The Labour Government are helping vulnerable people in two ways this winter – with Winter Fuel payments of £250 or £400 for the over 80s, and 148,800 people in the North East getting the increased Cold Weather Payments of £25. The severe cold weather we have experienced over Christmas and the New Year has already triggered three extra payments for people in the North East, meaning that the most vulnerable in our community will receive £75 towards their heating costs.”
The payments are automatic so everyone entitled will get them and should not worry about turning up their heating.
This is a far cry from the 1980s when Tory Minister Edwina Currie told pensioners just to “Wear woolly hats and long johns” in cold weather. In 1997 the Tories spent less than £60m a year helping pensioners meet their fuel bills – Labour today spends around £2.7bn a year.
Pensioner households will on average be around £1,500 a year better off in 2009/10 due to the Government’s personal tax and benefit changes than they would have been under the 1997 system. The poorest third of pensioner households will on average be around £2,100 a year better off.