News Release Page Title

16 September 2002

CLAIM YOUR £200 WINTER FUEL PAYMENT IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS

The Minister for Social Development, Nigel Dodds, MP MLA, today urged the over-60s to ensure that they claim their Winter Fuel Payment. In Northern Ireland more than 250,000 people benefited from this £200 payment last winter.

The Minister said: "Most people who qualify for this money will receive it automatically. However, for those who have to claim, the application has to be made before 20 September 2002 to make sure they receive their money before Christmas.

"The cost of keeping warm can be a real source of worry to the more elderly in our society and I am determined to tackle the problem of fuel poverty in Northern Ireland. These payments, along with the Warm Homes Scheme and the Cold Weather Payments, go a long way to provide warmth and comfort to some of the most vulnerable people in our society."

People aged 60 or over during the week 16 – 22 September 2002 are normally eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment. Claim forms can be obtained from the Winter Fuel Payment Helpline on 08459 15 15 15. Claim forms are also available from local Social Security offices, the Benefit Shop in Castle Court, Belfast and from the Social Security Agency’s website. www.ssani.gov.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS:

  1. Payments will be made to all eligible households in Northern Ireland. Automatic payments should be made by Christmas 2002.

  2. Payment does not depend on the amount of your income or savings and you don’t have to pay tax on it.

  3. For the first two winters of the scheme (1997/98 and 1998/99) eligible households received £20 whilst the poorest pensioners on Income Support received £50. Winter Fuel Payments were increased to £100 for eligible households for winter 1999/2000 and to £200 for winter 2000/2001.

  4. On 16 December 1999 following an European Court of Justice ruling, Alistair Darling announced that the Winter Fuel Payment would be equalised so that most men and women who are aged 60 and over during the qualifying week would be eligible for a payment. Under this new criteria people would also be eligible for backdated payments from the start of the scheme.

  5. Exclusions from the scheme include people who during the qualifying week (17-23 September) are living permanently in residential care and receiving Income Support; have been receiving free in-patient hospital treatment for over 52 weeks; are detained in custody and sentenced; are subject to immigration control.

  6. People who have questions about Winter Fuel Payments can contact the Winter Fuel Payment help-line on 08459 15 15 15 (0845 601 5613 for text-phone users). Calls are charged at a local rate and the line is open from 8.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday. You can also visit the website www.ssani.gov.uk

  7. You can get a copy of the claim form by calling the Winter Fuel Payment Help-line. A copy of the form is also available on the Internet on http://www.ssani.gov.uk

  8. The Warm Houses Scheme aims to create warmer and healthier homes for elderly people, those on low incomes and people with disabilities. Grants are available for insulation measures to private sector households where the occupants are on income or disability-based benefits and including central heating for pensioners on certain income-related benefits.

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