News
10th March 09
3/10/2009
Ulster Unionist Assembly member for Fermanagh & South Tyrone, Tom Elliott MLA has welcomed the announcement by Minister for Social Development, Margaret Ritchie MLA last week that this payment of £150 should be made in April 2009 to all eligible household
Elliott welcomes announcement of Household Fuel Payment
Ulster Unionist Assembly member for Fermanagh & South Tyrone, Tom Elliott MLA has welcomed the announcement by Minister for Social Development, Margaret Ritchie MLA last week that this payment of £150 should be made in April 2009 to all eligible households.
Tom said: The proposals were approved by the Executive on 26 February 2009 and many people are unsure if they qualify for this payment and when it would be paid. It is estimated 150,000 households will benefit from this payment and the total cost of the scheme will be over £22.5 million and will greatly assist the many thousands of people who are in fuel poverty.
To be eligible for payment, households must have been entitled to, Income Support with Housing Benefit or Housing Loan or Pension Credit during the qualifying week, which was 15 December 2008 – 21 December 2008. Sadly, people who are not in receipt of these two benefits will not qualify. People do not have to make a claim for £150 payment as payments will be made automatically to eligible householders using their normal benefit payment method. After a particularly cold winter and high energy costs faced by many households in Northern Ireland this will bring some light relief to many homes.”
Back to other news articles...
