Armstrong welcomes roll out of Household Fuel Payment

Ulster Unionist MLA Billy Armstrong has welcomed the news that 167,000 people have benefited from the Household Fuel Payment.

The Mid-Ulster Assemblyman who is also the Party's spokesman on Social Development issues said;

"The news that about 167,000 Household Fuel Payments of £150 each have been issued to date is to be warmly welcomed. The payment was to be paid to low income families and the elderly and will go some way to meeting energy costs, which still remain very high, thereby helping the fight against fuel poverty.

It had been estimated that the Household Fuel Payment Scheme would make a payment to approximately 150,000 households, including all 84,000 Pension Credit claimants (excluding those in Nursing Homes) and approximately 64,000 Income Support claimants who are also in receipt of Housing Benefit or Housing Loan.

To qualify, a member of the household must have been in receipt of one of these benefits between 15 December 2008 and 21 December 2008. This was the week when the scheme was first announced in the Assembly.

I understand that the Department of Social Development has received
approximately 4,000 letters and emails and in excess of 10,000 calls seeking clarification of entitlement to a payment. Those who believe they qualify for the Household Fuel Payment but have not yet received one, have until 30 June to write to the Department setting out the reasons why they believe they qualify.

I would urge all those who believe they are entitled to a payment but have not yet received one to contact the Department of Social Development at the following address."