Review Cold Weather Payments Eligibility - McGlone

SDLP MLA for Mid Ulster, Patsy McGlone, has called for a review of the method of determining which areas are eligible for cold weather payments.

The Mid Ulster MLA said, “The recent triggering of cold weather payments has once again revealed the problems with the current method of determining which areas are eligible.

“Rural areas, such as many parts of Mid Ulster, are disadvantaged under the current system.

“Most of Mid Ulster, postcodes BT80, 45 and 46, are assessed by measurements taken at the Aldegrove station.

“This some considerable distance away from the affected areas in Mid Ulster and cannot accurately reflect the conditions there.

“Although the residents in the postcodes I have mentioned have been included in the most recent list of those eligible, they were not included in the first cold weather payment of this winter. Yet residents in adjoining postcodes are covered.

“In some cases near neighbours will have been assessed differently.

“I will be discussing these issues with the Social Development Minister and urging a review of the current system to ensure that rural communities are no longer disadvantaged.”

ENDS