3,300 Local Pensioners to Miss Out on Cold Weather Payments Says Karen Gillard

10.00.05am GMT Thu 11th Feb 2010

Up to 3,300 pensioners in the South East Cornwall will miss out on Cold Weather Payments despite recent freezing conditions, according to a Liberal Democrat analysis of Government figures.

Cold Weather Payments of £25 a week are paid to people on low incomes who receive a qualifying benefit such as Pension Credit. 1.7m pensioners across the country who are likely to be eligible do not claim the credit because the necessary forms are too complicated and/or because they involve revealing substantial details of the applicant's personal finances.

Commenting, Karen Gillard, who is replacing Colin Breed MP as the Lib Dem candidate at the general election, said:

"Fuel prices are at an all time high. Cold Weather Payments are even more important to people who already struggle on a poverty pension.

"The Government is holding back £42.5m in cash which should be going to keep people warm this winter.

"Ministers should make greater effort to identify pensioners who are missing out and need the extra cash they are entitled to. 3,300 of them are right here in South East Cornwall."