Cold Weather Payment Postcode Lottery

Stephen Metcalfe, prospective Conservative MP for South Basildon & East Thurrock has today written to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to ask that he look again at the system of Cold Weather Payments in light of what is being described as the harshest winter for 30 years.

Stephen said: “I have been contacted by a number of residents complaining about the fact they are not entitled to a cold weather payment (worth £25 a week for every 7 day period where the temperature does not average above zero), despite this being the harshest winter for 30 years.”

“On investigation it appears there are many anomalies within the system that means that some areas miss out because the temperature readings are taken up to 20 miles away. This creates a huge margin of error where totally different climactic condition may prevail within the same zone."

“For example taking readings at Heathrow that are used to trigger payments in Ilford (IG) while Romford (RM) a couple of miles away is due to receive nothing.”

“During a recent web chat on the ‘Number10’ website, the Government claimed that: ‘within the last month, 96% of eligible customers (that’s 4.1 million recipients) have had payments triggered and most of them have had 2 payments already. So far the government has spent 200 million pounds. This budget is not cash limited and we pay according to need. If the cold weather continues, we will keep paying. It’s real help now.’”

Stephen continued: “In light of this information I have asked the Secretary of State to, as a gesture of goodwill and in recognition of the fact that this is the harshest winter for 30 years, make that 100% for one week, giving every eligible household a payment regardless of whether the actual criteria were met.”

“While I realize that this may go against the letter of the current system, I am sure that it would be in the spirit of it and would be most welcome by those least able to afford to heat their homes in these very cold times, and those worrying about the arrival of their next energy bill.”

“I am sure everyone would agree these payments are an entitlement when the temperature drops and I would hate to think that we are using bureaucracy and red tape to deny what is peoples rightful entitlement.”

Posted 14/01/10

HOME