5100 Durham pensioners will miss out on Cold Weather Payments

12.00.00am GMT Tue 12th Jan 2010

More than five thousand pensioners in Durham will miss out on Cold Weather Payments triggered by the recent weather, according to analysis of Government figures by the Liberal Democrats.

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 5100 pensioners in Durham.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat spokesperson Carol Woods said:

"It is a disgrace that pensioners who desperately need these payments will miss out. Gas and electricity prices are high and these Cold Weather Payments will be vital to people already struggling on a poor pension. Labour has let down pensioners who are in need by making a complicated system that results in many missing out on the payment. The government should be doing much more to identify pensioners who are missing out to make sure they get this extra cash."