19/11/2003

Over 80s offered extra £100 for winter fuel payments

Around 2 million households in the UK with someone aged 80 plus will automatically receive £100 on top of the £200 Winter Fuel Payment, it has been announced today.

This winter about 8 million households, some 11.5 million people, will benefit from the £200 Winter Fuel Payment, worth around £4 a week.

Over 2 million people in these households will also receive the new 80+ Annual Payment of up to £100, where someone in the household was aged 80 or over on or before 21st September 2003. There are around 2.4 million people aged 80 or over in Great Britain, and of these over one million live alone.

Pensions Minister Malcolm Wicks said: "We are winning the cold war for pensioners: helping them heat their homes, protecting older people from winter-related illnesses, and improving central heating and insulation for the most vulnerable.

"We will be making payments over a number of weeks, so don't worry if you get yours at a different time to friends, neighbours or someone you live with."

Anyone aged 80 or over on or before 21 September 2003 may qualify for the new 80+ Annual Payment, and anyone aged 60 or over on or before 21 September 2003 may qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment. Most eligible people will get their payment automatically.

Pensioners are also being asked to take action as soon as they receive their girocheque, as it only remains valid for one month. Pensioners should either cash it, or put it in their post office, bank or building society account.

(gmcg)

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