Hebrides given cold shoulder over weather payments

In the Western Isles approximately 2900 people meet the qualifying criteria for cold weather payments

Cold weather payments are granted when the average temperature where you live is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees Celsius or below over seven consecutive days during the period from 1 November to 31 March.

It does not currently incorporate the affects of wind-chill.

The payments should be made automatically to people on pension credit as well as those on income support, income related employment and support allowance as well as those receiving disabled child premium or child tax credit that includes a disability or severe disability element.

Parts of Essex and Southern England have so far this winter received three cold weather payments whilst the Western Isles has received none.

Yesterday Orkney and Shetland Lib Dem MP Alistair Carmichael wrote to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions the Rt. Hon Yvette Cooper MP asking her to incorporate the wind-chill factor into the ‘cold weather payments’ system. Commenting local prospective Lib Dem candidate Jean Davis said:

“We have all experienced the recent long cold snap and are aware of the extra fuel we have had to burn to keep warm. Whilst I do not grudge the people of Essex these payments it illustrates that the system for triggering the payments is in urgent need of an overhaul.”

“The long cold winters in the Islands do bring extreme costs especially for people who are least able to afford them.

We have an already high level of fuel poverty and we regularly experience the effects of wind chill.

Incorporating wind chill factors into the criteria for payment would be welcome for the 2900 people who qualify and are no doubt worried about paying their fuel bills this winter.”

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