Strathaven based MSP, Linda Fabiani, is warning people of changes to the system of benefit payments that could cause difficulties for claimants as a transition takes place from weekly benefit payments to fortnightly payments.

The changes are being introduced by the Department for Work and Pensions and affects claimants in receipt of income support, incapacity benefits, jobseekers allowance, severe disablement allowance, bereavement benefit or widows benefit.

These benefits will now be paid fortnightly in arrears and the introduction of the new system will mean some people could have a gap of three weeks between benefit payments.

Ms Fabiani said:

“These changes are more to do with making life easier for the DWP instead of for the life and convenience of the claimants, however, it is important that people are aware of what is about to happen and the measures available to assist them over the transition period.

“These are significant changes from the DWP and they do not plan to run a publicity or awareness campaign to inform people of the changes. Instead the first people will know of the changes is when Jobcentre Plus writes to inform claimants that benefits will now be paid in arrears once a fortnight and that the day their benefit is normally paid might be changed.

“The worrying aspect of this is the changeover period of moving from a weekly payment to a fortnightly paid in arrears meaning some claimants could have a three week period when they do not receive any benefit payment whatsoever.

“It is therefore very important that claimants realise that an interest free loan is available from the DWP to cover the changeover period, however, these loans will not be awarded automatically and any claimant that needs one will have to apply for it. The loan is then reclaimed from subsequent benefit payments.

“Claimants will need to read carefully the letter they receive from Jobcentre Plus, which will be sent to them four weeks prior to the changes affecting their benefit, this letter will include information on how to apply for the loan.”

The changes, which do not apply to attendance allowance, disability living allowance, or carers allowance, will be introduced from 6^th April 2009 over a two year period.

Responding to criticism by Andy Kerr MSP of the Scottish Governments Central Heating Programme, in last weeks EK News, the SNPs Linda Fabiani said:

“Far from the Central Heating Programme being restricted it is now better resourced than it has ever been.

“In the last year the SNP Government has invested a record level of resources into the Central Heating Programme and installed over 14,000 central heating systems across the country, a record total, and 4,000 more installations than the Labour Party achieved in their last year in office.

“This year we are set to raise that total to an even higher level and expand the range of people that will qualify to apply for a central heating system when, from April we will  extend the scheme to cover families with children under 5 and families with disabled children under 16 who are in receipt of income support.

“Hardly the actions of a government that is cutting back but certainly the actions of a government that is placing the neediest of our citizens first.

Strathaven based MSP Linda Fabiani, has asked the UK Government to consider reviewing the mechanisms that trigger Cold Weather Payments.

Currently, weather temperatures in East Kilbride, which sits 600 feet above sea level, are monitored at the weather station in Bishopton, which is 200 above sea level and 20 miles away.

Ms Fabiani would like to see weather temperatures measured across a broader geographical area that would recognise the extremes of weather suffered in locations such as East Kilbride.

Ms Fabiani said:

“It has been raised with me by constituents that the criteria that triggers Cold Weather Payments, are not favourable to residents of high lying areas like East Kilbride, even though the likelihood of severe weather is greater here than in areas even as close as Glasgow.

“The reason for this is the location of the weather station from which measurements are taken, which is in Bishopton, 20 miles away and not subject to severe weather conditions as regularly as East Kilbride is. It would be of far more benefit to people if the temperatures where taken in East Kilbride where weather is at its worst and fuel bills are in the region of 20 percent higher than average.

“If East Kilbride was located in the Highland region, for example, then a payment to pensioners and those on benefits would already have been made this year; and the weather in East Kilbride can at times be as severe as you will find anywhere in the country.

“The Cold Weather Payment is essentially missing many communities that are located on high ground due to the network of weather stations being sited at geographical locations that are very different from those that suffer the worst weather. These weather stations probably serve their purpose very well in general circumstances but in terms of

measuring conditions in the worst affected areas they are obviously inadequate.

“I have written to the UK Government Minister with responsibility for Cold Weather Payments, and asked that at the next review of this policy that these aspects are considered for reappraisal and, that recognition is given to the geographical diversity of weather conditions, in the hope that the worst affected communities may get the most support.”

Cold Weather Payments are triggered after temperatures of 0 degrees or less for a period of seven consecutive days.