Estimated 3,000 Eastbourne pensioners missing out on Cold Weather Payments

12.40.26am GMT Sat 16th Jan 2010

Over 3,000 Eastbourne pensioners 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 according to the governments own figures goes unclaimed by as many as 3,285 pensioners in Eastbourne, and a staggering 1.7m pensioners across the United Kingdom

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Campaigner, Stephen Lloyd said: "It is a scandal that so many local pensioners are missing out on these payments, worth over £80,000 in total per week. Heating prices are at a high level making Cold Weather Payments all the more important to the elderly residents of Eastbourne & Willingdon having to struggle with the freezing temperatures we've experienced over the last couple of weeks."

Stephen added: "The Government has failed pensioners by creating a complicated system that makes it difficult for them to get the help they desperately need. The Department of Work & Pensions should be making every effort to identify local pensioners who are missing out and get them this extra cash."