3,780 pensioners in Macclesfield could be losing £25 a week in the freezing weather.
Cold weather payments of £25 a week are issued automatically to help pensioners pay their fuel bills in severe weather – and in Macclesfield we have had 3 such weeks already so far this winter, making £75. But not all pensioners get them – only those claiming an extra benefit, like Pension Credit, which is used to top up those on small pension.
But many pensioners who could claim Pension Credit don’t do so. According to the Government’s own figures an estimated 3,780 of these 1.7M pensioners outside the system live in the Macclesfield constituency.
The good news is that it’s not too late, as claims can be backdated for 3 months. If you (or a friend or relative) might be missing out, call the Pension Service on 0800 99 1234, or go online.
Labour has failed pensioners by creating a complicated system that makes it difficult for them to get the help they desperately need. The Government should be making every effort to identify pensioners who are missing out and get them this extra cash.
