26 January 2004 - Stay warm during the cold snap
With temperatures forecast to plummet across the UK this week, older and vulnerable people are being urged to keep warm and stay well with a package of financial help and tips from the Government.
Minister for Pensions and Older People Malcolm Wicks encouraged seniors to make sure they have taken advantage of all the help available to combat the cold.
Mr Wicks, who early in his career carried out pioneering research on hypothermia, said:
“When the temperature drops it is the elderly who suffer the most. It is absolutely vital that over the next few days older people keep the heating on and wrap up well. No older person should have to worry about turning up the heating during this cold snap.
“We have in place many strands of support helping people keep warm; from the Winter Fuel Payment to Cold Weather Payments which are automatically triggered by very cold weather, to helplines offering advice on staying well, and grants to install new central heating systems.
“While the Government has a major role to play, all of us in the wider community must play our part in the coming days by being vigilant and keeping an eye out for family, friends and neighbours who may be suffering from the cold.”
- This winter about 8 million households, some 11.5 million people, will benefit from the £200 Winter Fuel Payment.
- Over 2 million people in these households will also receive the new 80+ Annual Payment of £100, where someone in the household was aged 80 or over on or before 21st September 2003, so their households will automatically receive a total payment of £300.
- Cold Weather Payments provide extra help towards heating costs for the poorest and most vulnerable members of our society.
- A Cold Weather Payment of £8.50 is issued automatically to people on lower incomes when the average temperature is recorded as, or forecast to be, 0 degrees centigrade or below over seven consecutive days. 1.6 million payments were made last year.
- The Keep Warm Keep Well campaign to protect older people from winter-related health problems is run by the Department of Health - a free Winter Guide is also available offering practical help and tips on keeping warm. Call 0800 085 7000 for advice on keeping warm and staying well in winter.
- DEFRA's Warm Front Scheme provides help such as insulation and new central heating to vulnerable households - grants available up to £2,500. Over 700,000 households have benefited from this initiative over the past three years; Warm Front Plus may provide additional help towards a gas or electric central heating system for main living areas – grants available up to £2,500.
- The Energy Efficiency Commitment means electricity and gas suppliers must focus 50% of energy savings on a priority group of low income consumers, which include those on benefits.
- Over half of all pensioner households are eligible for Pension Credit – with over 2.5 million people already receiving it. Pension Credit guarantees everyone aged 60 and over an income of at least £102.10 and £155.80 for couples, and rewards people aged 65 and over for some of the savings and income they have put away for their retirement. Call 0800 99 1234 to apply.
Notes for editors
- Malcolm Wicks is the author of a number of books and papers including “Old and Cold: Hypothermia and Social Policy” (1976).
- DEFRA's Warm Front Scheme provides help such as insulation and new central heating to vulnerable households. You can apply or get more information by calling a free phone number - 0800 952 0600.
- Most eligible people will get their Winter Fuel Payment automatically. People who qualify for the new 80+ Annual Payment of up to £100 will get the extra money automatically – they will not need to claim.
- Entitled people in care homes who get Winter Fuel Payments will also get an extra payment if they aged 80 or over in the qualifying week.
- Those people who are newly eligible and who need to claim, and have not already received a claim form, can get one by visiting the Winter Fuel Payment website – www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/winterfuel, by calling the Helpline on 08459 15 15 15 or tearing off the coupon in national newspaper advertisements. Claims must be returned by no later than 30 March 2004 for this winter.
- More information on Winter Fuel Payments is available in an information leaflet available from places such as social security offices, welfare organisations and post offices. The leaflet is also on the Pension Service website.
- The Winter Fuel Payment Helpline is open from 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday and calls are charged at local rates.
- Cold Weather Payments are triggered automatically by each week of very cold weather helping the most vulnerable members of our society – pensioners, the disabled and families with young children receiving Income Support, Pension Credit and income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance – in periods of exceptionally cold weather.
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