Many miss out on weather payments

The majority of people in Oxfordshire hoping for cold weather payments will not get them, as it has not been cold enough at Brize Norton weather station.

The money is paid when temperatures fall to 0C for seven consecutive days.

However, people in Thame and Henley can expect to receive the £25 payment because they are covered by High Wycombe weather station.

On Tuesday, the temperature dropped to nearly -12C in Benson, making it colder than Moscow and Reykjavik.

The payment, which goes to people in receipt of certain benefits - mainly pensioners, severely disabled people and families with a young or severely disabled child - rose this year from £8.50 to £25 a week for each spell of cold weather.

It is paid automatically to those who qualify.

Bee Myson, of Age Concern in Oxfordshire, said: "We are constantly aware of people who just fall outside the benefit entitlement.

"It is annoying to them not to be able to claim the extra amount."

Oxfordshire MP John Howell said the government was to blame for the confusion.

"This policy was rushed in," he said.

"The government do not think through what the implications will be for people who are affected by it."

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Department for Works and Pensions
Age Concern
Met Office
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