Winter Payments increased and extended by City of Inverness Area Committee.
Members of The Highland Council’s Inverness City Area Committee have agreed to increase the Inverness Common Good Fund Winter Payments scheme by £5 to £73 for each qualifying household in the seven City Council Wards for the year 2013/14.
The budget set aside within the City of Inverness Common Good Fund, for 2013/14 will be increased from £42,000 to £57,000.
Leader of The City of Inverness Area Committee Councillor Ian Brown said: “This is good news for the most vulnerable people in our community. We are taking into account the rise in energy costs and have agreed that from now on the process of calculating Winter Payments will be increased in line with average increases in energy costs in addition to the Consumer Prices Index.”
The Winter Payments Scheme is designed to benefit those members of the community most in need of financial support during the winter, when extra fuel is needed.
People qualifying for the scheme will include those on Attendance Allowance, Disability Allowance or a War Pension and will also include two new benefits recently introduced: the Personal Independence Payment, and Armed Forces Independence Payment. People who qualify for Pension Credit Savings Credit will also be included who also have a resident in the property entitled to any of the qualifying benefits for the Winter Payment Scheme.
Members agreed that that the first Winter payment is set at £40. Should applicants be successful, an additional second payment of £33 - if applicants meet Home Energy Scotland (HES) criteria - will also be made. HES give energy efficiency advice to claimants, and those living in the poorest energy efficient homes.
Members also agreed to a review of the Winter Payments Scheme by Officers in consultation with the City Leader. This review will be reported back to the October City of Inverness Area Committee. The review will address issues raised by members about widening the eligibility criteria and increasing the uptake of the Winter Payments Scheme.
The Inverness Common Good Fund is also to support the Blythswood Care Food Hamper Scheme which provides families with life-line food hampers in times of extreme need by donating £10,000 towards the scheme.