December 18, 2008
CHRISTMAS CASH BOOST FOR MOST VULNERABLE
John Healey MP has welcomed a new cash boost for tens of thousands of local people.
After the coldest start to winter in 30 years, this week the Government ordered a special one-off payment of £60 to pensioners, carers, disabled people and those receiving bereavement benefits – 23,360 people in the Wentworth constituency.
Mr Healey said: “The most vulnerable need help and it’s right that the Government have invested this extra cash.
“This Christmas bonus will be a real winter warmer for all who get it.”
This help is in addition to the extra £4 billion which will be spent on pensions next year, announced by the Chancellor in the pre-budget report. This means the biggest increase in State Pension since 2001, bringing it from £90 to £95 a week, and the biggest in increase in Pension Credit since it was introduced, so that no pensioner need live on less than £130 a week from April 2009.