Bruce demands extension of Winter Fuel Payment to disabled
November 10, 2008 10:40 AM
Gordon MP Malcolm Bruce and his Liberal Democrat colleagues are calling on the Government to extend the Winter Fuel Payment scheme to include severely disabled people.
Government figures obtained by Mr Bruce show that over 1,500 vulnerable people in Gordon would be potentially eligible for the Winter Fuel Allowance if the Government agreed to extend the scheme to those who claim the Disability Living Allowance because of high-level mobility problems.
Mr Bruce said:
"Winter Fuel Payments are designed to help those most vulnerable in society meet the costs of keeping warm this winter but this currently only includes those over 60 years old. Those constituents who have mobility problems are just as likely to be vulnerable to the effects of the cold and face the same high energy bills as a result. If they are in receipt of the higher level Disability Living Allowance due to mobility restrictions, then it is only fair that they be included in the scheme which already pays to pensioners regardless of income or assets."
Calling on those pensioners who are already entitled to receive the allowance, Mr Bruce added:
"Anyone over 60 or who turned 60 before 21st September this year and does not receive the state pension needs to submit a claim form before the deadline of 30 March 2009 in order to be eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment this winter. Those who received it last year will automatically receive it unless their circumstances have changed. With the first snow already falling in Aberdeenshire, it could be a harsh winter this year and the Payment should go some way to relieving the burden of high energy bills."
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