Subject:
"Government to introduce 'hot weather' payments?"
First topic | Last topic
ken
rightsnet, lasa Member since 28th Jul 2005
Government to introduce 'hot weather' payments? Thu 08-Jan-09 02:32 PM
According to today's Guardian, the DWP is studying a specially commissioned report from the Met Office which concludes that the weather may become so hot that poorer households may need help to pay their summer energy bills 'as they reach for air conditioners to prevent themselves dying from heat exhaustion'.
RE: Government to introduce 'hot weather' payments? Thu 08-Jan-09 04:58 PM
If they can afford to buy (or hire) an air conditioner perhaps it is not unreasonable to expect them to be able to afford to pay for the electricity to run it as well. Or am I being unrealistic?
welfare rights adviser, city and county of swansea Member since 21st Feb 2005
RE: Government to introduce 'hot weather' payments? Fri 09-Jan-09 08:53 AM
No just judgemental. Poorer households include many people especially at risk from hot weather eg elderly, but relatives may have brought or passed on equipment or they got a loan from provident etc etc
families adviser, toxteth citizens advice bureau, liverpool Member since 20th Jul 2006
RE: Government to introduce 'hot weather' payments? Tue 20-Jan-09 10:35 AM
Three years ago it topped 80 degrees for three weeks in July and some elderly people died of heatstroke. Perhaps the govt is is simply using some foresight. With the climate so erratic these days, who knows if it will happen again?