Holytown pensioner out in the cold over payments
A HOLYTOWN pensioner has hit out at the Department of Work and Pensions over cold weather payments.
He discovered that vulnerable people in the Motherwell area are receiving cold weather payments on the basis of the temperature in Renfrewshire, yet those living in nearby Larkhall will receive the benefit if the weather worsens in nearby Salsburgh.
The pensioner, who did not want to be named, discovered that friends living in the ML6 to ML11 areas had received more payments than him.
The payment of 25 is made when the temperature is zero degrees celsius or below over seven consecutive days.
People living in the ML1 to ML5 postcodes had received five payments this winter in comparison to those in the ML6 to ML11 postcodes who had received six payments.
The pensioner said: "People in the ML6 to ML11 postcode have received 25 more than those in the ML1 to ML5 postcodes which might not seem a lot, but it is to people who receive these payments. Everyone should be treated equal."
A spokesman for the Department of Work and Pensions said payments are designed to ensure that the most vulnerable people in society receive them and they work closely with the Met Office to ensure that they have sufficient data to give the payments out.
Full story in March 4 edition of Motherwell Times
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Weather for Motherwell, Scotland
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Light sleet showers
Temperature: 1 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 4 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South
