Cold weather payments row

THE CHIEF Executive for Age UK in Calderdale has urged the government to review the process for allocating cold weather payments.

Cold Weather Payments are a government benefit top-up to help with fuel bills during times of exceptional cold weather. Each £25 payment for a sevenday period, and the scheme covers the time between November 1 and March 31.

It has been reported that the payments have been triggered in parts of Huddersfield, Bradford and Leeds from the Bingley station which records temperatures for West Yorkshire.

Postcodes with HD6, includsaid: ing in Brighouse, haven’t received a payment because that postcode is recorded at a station in South Yorkshire. On Smith House Lane in Lightcliffe, there are houses with a HX postcode on one side and HD6 on the other, so only half the street gets the payment.

Lisa Butland, from Age UK, said: “Older people are much more vulnerable to the issues colder weather can bring so benefits, such as the cold weather payment, are essential. It’s unfair that some people seem to be missing out on payments depending on their postcode, yet their neighbours have been receiving the money. The Department for Work and Pensions needs to review how temperatures are being recorded to ensure nobody misses out on this vital support.”

A DWP spokesperson “The scheme operates by mapping each postcode district to one of 95 Met Office weather stations, based on Met Office advice. Areas that are near to one another can fall into different postcode districts and will not always be eligible for CWPs at the same time. Each year we review the scheme and seek expert advice from the Met Office, taking into account representations from MPs and the public and other help is available via Winter Fuel Payments and the Warm Home Discount Scheme.”

Age UK offer free advice on how to keep warm during winter; free benefits checks; free home energy checks and can install free energy equipment. Call 01422 262015 for details.

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