Up to 2,000 local pensioners missing out on Cold Weather Payments

4.20.32pm GMT Tue 12th Jan 2010

Kevin believes the Labour Government must do more to help older people through the cold snap.

New figures published by the Liberal Democrats have shown that up to 2,000 pensioners in Edinburgh North & Leith are missing out on cold weather payments due to them by the UK Government.

Cold Weather Payments of £25 a week are paid to people on low incomes who receive a qualifying benefit, such as Pension Credit, which goes unclaimed by as many as 1.7m pensioners nationally.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat candidate for Edinburgh North & Leith, Kevin Lang said:

"It is a scandal that so many local pensioners here in Edinburgh North & Leith who are on the breadline are missing out on these payments to which the are entitled. This money would make a real difference in helping them to get through this unprecedented cold spell.

"Fuel prices are at an all time high, making Cold Weather Payments all the more important to people already struggling on a poverty pension.

"Labour has failed pensioners by creating a complicated system that makes it difficult for them to get the help they desperately need.

"The Government should be making every effort to identify pensioners who are missing out and get them this extra cash."