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Rennie demands extension of winter fuel payment to disabled
November 18, 2008 3:00 PM
MP Willie Rennie and his Liberal Democrat colleagues are calling on the Government to extend the Winter Fuel Payment scheme to include severely disabled people.
Government figures obtained by Mr Rennie show that over 3,000 vulnerable people in his constituency of Dunfermline and West Fife would be eligible for the Winter Fuel Allowance if the Government agreed to extend the scheme to those who claim the Disability Living Allowance because of high-level mobility problems.
Mr Rennie said:
"Winter Fuel Payments are designed to help the most vulnerable in society meet the costs of keeping warm this winter, but this currently only includes those over 60 years old. My constituents who have mobility problems are just as likely to be vulnerable to the effects of the cold and face the same high energy bills as a result. If they are in receipt of the higher level Disability Living Allowance due to mobility restrictions, then it is only fair that they be included in the scheme."
Mr Rennie is also encouraging pensioners in the Kingdom who are eligible to receive the Winter Fuel Payment to apply. He added:
"Anybody who was aged over 60 before 21st September this year but who does not receive the state pension needs to submit a claim form before the deadline of 30 March 2009 in order to be eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment this winter. Those who received it last year will automatically receive it unless their circumstances have changed. With the first snow having already fallen in the Kingdom, it could be a harsh winter this year and the Payment should go some way to relieving the burden of high energy bills."
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