PENSIONERS GET £1,400 BONUS FROM MUCH NEEDED CENTRAL HEATING SCHEME

PENSIONERS GET £1,400 BONUS FROM MUCH NEEDED CENTRAL HEATING SCHEME

LABOUR THREAT TO PENSIONERS POCKETS

Welcoming the statement by Communities Minister Stewart Maxwell announced today (Tuesday) that free benefits checks have banked £1 million for Scottish pensioners, Glasgow SNP MSP Bill Kidd contrasted the help Scottish Government was giving pensioners to the UK government's new system where they cut back on the period people can reclaim backdated benefits.
Since 2007, over 700 pensioners have had their weekly incomes boosted after applying for a Central Heating system and having an automatic free benefits check. This has seen many pensioners receiving increased Pension Credit, Attendance Allowance and in many cases, a full Council Tax rebate.
The £1 million increase is the equivalent of £1,400 for each pensioner who successfully claims additional support.
In contrast from the 6th of October the UK government introduced a new system for pensioners where backdated benefits will now only be given for three months when it was previously 12 months.
Commenting Mr Kidd said:
"This is great news for Scotland's pensioners – particularly those on low incomes. By ensuring pensioner who applies for the warm deal receive a free benefits check the SNP is making certain that they also maximise their incomes. In these troubled economic times that is a fundamental policy to deliver.
"What a contrast to the actions of the Labour government down south which is clawing back money that could benefit those pensioners.
"By cutting the timescale pensioners can acquire unclaimed benefits they are hurting some of the most vulnerable people in society.
"Many pensioners will have been paying out of their own pocket money that the Government should have given them. Why should they not be able to claim that back.
"At a time when economic uncertainty will hit vulnerable households in particular, it is inexplicable why the London Labour government would choose to penalise pensioners like this.
"It exposes Labour's hypocrisy on social justice.
"Labour seems to have learnt nothing since the last time they tried to 'simplify' the tax and benefit system, and left millions reeling with the 10p tax fiasco. They take pensioners and those on low incomes for granted."